Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand invited Kayden Nguyen, a California woman who filed a civil lawsuit claiming that she was held captive at a Jean Lafitte mansion by against actor Steven Seagal in February and treated like a "sex toy" during the filming the television show "Steven Seagal: Lawman," to contact the department and file a criminal complaint during a press conference Wednesday.
Without it, Normand said his office could not move forward with any type of investigation in the matter, as per a long-standing Sheriff's Office policy. When such allegations arise, Normand said his office always defers to the criminal investigation first before conducting any type of administrative hearing.
"I will treat Mr. Seagal no differently than any other employee of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. I'm not moved one iota by virture of his being a movie star or the fact that the national media has an interest in this case," Normand said.
Normand said he also contacted A&E, the network that airs Seagal's reality show based on his with the Sheriff's Office as a reserve deputy, to cancel filming.
"I informed A&E and ITTV that I did not believe at the present time in lifht of all of this interest and in light of the filing of this particular lawsuit and in light of the disruptive behavior that may end up existing...that I did not think it would be in our best interest to continue filming at the present time," Normand said.
Nguyen, 23, filed the civil lawsuit (read the lawsuit) Monday in Los Angeles in state Superior Court and accused Seagal, 59, of illegal trafficking of females for sex, sexual harassment, failure to prevent sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and false representation about employment.
In the lawsuit, Nguyen said that when hired she was told she would be an executive assistant performing clerical work for Seagal. But she claims she was actually hired to be an "attendant" to the star expected to provide "sex on call to him 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Seagal's attorney, Martin Singer, has called Nguyen a disgruntled former employee.
"I am extremely confident this meritless lawsuit will be dismissed. Ms. Nguyen filed her lawsuit without even notifying Mr. Seagal or his representatives of her alleged claims, because she was aware that claims could be asserted against her based on her own conduct," he said.
Nguyen's attorney, William Waldo, did not return telephone requests for comment on Wednesday.
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/04/jpso_addresses_seagal_lawsuit.html
Without it, Normand said his office could not move forward with any type of investigation in the matter, as per a long-standing Sheriff's Office policy. When such allegations arise, Normand said his office always defers to the criminal investigation first before conducting any type of administrative hearing.
"I will treat Mr. Seagal no differently than any other employee of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. I'm not moved one iota by virture of his being a movie star or the fact that the national media has an interest in this case," Normand said.
Normand said he also contacted A&E, the network that airs Seagal's reality show based on his with the Sheriff's Office as a reserve deputy, to cancel filming.
"I informed A&E and ITTV that I did not believe at the present time in lifht of all of this interest and in light of the filing of this particular lawsuit and in light of the disruptive behavior that may end up existing...that I did not think it would be in our best interest to continue filming at the present time," Normand said.
Nguyen, 23, filed the civil lawsuit (read the lawsuit) Monday in Los Angeles in state Superior Court and accused Seagal, 59, of illegal trafficking of females for sex, sexual harassment, failure to prevent sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and false representation about employment.
In the lawsuit, Nguyen said that when hired she was told she would be an executive assistant performing clerical work for Seagal. But she claims she was actually hired to be an "attendant" to the star expected to provide "sex on call to him 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Seagal's attorney, Martin Singer, has called Nguyen a disgruntled former employee.
"I am extremely confident this meritless lawsuit will be dismissed. Ms. Nguyen filed her lawsuit without even notifying Mr. Seagal or his representatives of her alleged claims, because she was aware that claims could be asserted against her based on her own conduct," he said.
Nguyen's attorney, William Waldo, did not return telephone requests for comment on Wednesday.
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/04/jpso_addresses_seagal_lawsuit.html