Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein faces a second sexual discrimination complaint in less than a year.

He said at the commissioners meeting Monday that a county employee filed an internal complaint against him, making false allegations.

“I’m not guilty,” he said.

Eckstein, who only identified the employee as a political appointee, said the complaint stemmed from a debate he had with that person about what could be said during public meetings.

County solicitor Julie Graham said no details about the case Eckstein referred to can be discussed because it’s a personnel issue.

Eckstein said the employee chided him about discussing complaints regarding how letters to inmates are handled during the December prison board meeting.

He said the employee, who spoke to him after the prison board meeting, was out of line trying to silence him.

“I do have the right to bring up allegations at the prison board meeting,” Eckstein said.

He referred to an inmate’s accusations that prison staff was violating his rights by interfering with his incoming mail.

“I believe it is wrong,” Eckstein said.

County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, prison board chairman, said in an interview there is no evidence of violating protocol at the prison.

“We were not,” he said.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier and Sheriff Mike Slupe, who also are prison board members, agreed there was no issue with inmates’ mail.

“I am confident they are not violating anyone’s rights,” Slupe said in an interview.

Warden Rick Shaffer said in an interview there was no evidence of his staff interfering with inmates’ mail, not following prison protocol or violating prisoners’ rights.

Eckstein said during Monday’s meeting he was doing his due diligence by broaching the topic at the prison board meeting.

“I’m not going to be part of these cover-ups,” he said.

According to county prison policy, “Regular incoming and outgoing U.S. mail will never be routinely read unless directly ordered by the warden or designee.”

In an Oct. 16 letter sent to Shaffer, Kay Kishbaugh, director of county inspections and services from the state Department of Corrections, stated there should be a good reason to read or inspect an inmate’s mail or face consequences for violating an inmate’s constitutional rights.

Kishbaugh also questioned why the inmate didn’t receive a letter she sent to him.

Warden Rick Shaffer responded he gave the inmate a copy of Kishbaugh’s letter that “he claims he never received.”

According to Shaffer’s letter, “I can assure that this matter has been investigated and there is no evidence that anyone is tampering with his mail.”

Shaffer also pointed out the prison received a 100 percent compliance rating from the last two state inspections.

Kishbaugh said in an interview she’s received no further information about the inmate’s issues with the prison.

She stressed the prison must follow county, not state correctional facility, policy.

“It’s their (the county’s) job to enforce what’s written,” Kishbaugh said.

However, she confirmed a county policy can’t violate state or federal law.

The commissioners on Monday discussed hiring the Pittsburgh law firm of Thomas, Thomas & Hafer to investigate the complaint against Eckstein.

Eckstein said the county should do an internal investigation to save money.

“There’ll be no cost to the county,” Eckstein said.

If hired, the firm would be paid $185 an hour with the total amount not to exceed $5,000.

Eckstein said new county solicitor Mike English, who is succeeding the retiring Graham, could investigate the complaint because English wouldn’t have developed any biases yet.

“I want due process,” Eckstein said.

English said he would not conduct the investigation because it would be a conflict of interest.

After English advised the commissioners to hire the firm, Eckstein said the vote should not be taken at the agenda-setting meeting Monday.

“That doesn’t make sense to me,” he said.

McCarrier agreed the vote could be taken Wednesday.

Graham said the last time the county hired an independent firm to investigate an internal complaint was in the late 1990s.

In the prior sexual discrimination case involving Eckstein, Children and Youth Services director Joyce Ainsworth in March filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Ainsworth, who was not seeking a financial settlement, alleged Eckstein mistreated her during the Feb. 29 meeting.

The commissioners in December settled the case, agreeing to attend a training session covering such topics as bullying in the workplace and issuing a statement of support for Ainsworth.

McCarrier said the training has not been scheduled yet. The county has three months to fulfill that provision of the agreement.