Another Marc Dann employee embroiled in controversy

Attorney General Marc Dann placed an administrator, who is facing allegations of sexually harassing two female employees, on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The leave for Anthony S. Gutierrez of Liberty, Dann’s director of general services, is effective immediately. He is paid $87,500 annually.

“We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously,” said Dann in a prepared statement today. “In order to protect the interests and rights of all the parties involved we believe it is prudent to place Mr. Gutierrez on leave during the course of the investigation.”

Two female attorney general employees, both 26, filed sexual harassment complaints against Gutierrez, 50, their boss and a longtime friend of Dann.

Angie Smedlund, the attorney general’s Equal Employment Opportunity officer, is investigating the complaints.

Gutierrez shares a Dublin condominium with Leo Jennings III, the attorney general’s communication chief. Dann, a Liberty Democrat, also lived there until he moved out December.

Gutierrez, a former self-employed general contractor and failed politician, used to live on the same street — Northlawn Drive in Liberty — as Dann.

The complaints are being investigated, Jennings said today. The results will be released once the investigation concludes, he said.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com