Civil rights lawsuit settled
MARS — Nearly two years after charges of harassment were withdrawn against an Adams Township woman, a federal civil rights lawsuit involving the alleged victim and the officer who pursued the charges has been resolved.
According to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the civil suit was filed by Carmelina Vargo against Michael Bailey and Michael Wetherholt. All parties were involved in an April 2016 incident in which Vargo was initially charged with stalking and two counts of harassment after an alleged incident at the Mars Athletic Complex.
After months of court proceedings, all charges against Vargo were withdrawn on Dec. 6, 2016, by District Judge Wayne Seibel, according to the federal civil suit.
The civil suit was filed Jan. 30, 2018, with Judge David S. Cercone handling the case.
The suit alleges Wetherholt and Bailey “conspired” to deprive Vargo of her 14th Amendment rights.
On July 20, all parties submitted documents indicating a settlement had been reached following a mediation session July 17. Details of the settlement were not released.
Read the full story in the Butler Eagle.
