The discrimination complaint against Grand County has been amended for a third time, adding a 13th complainant and expanding to 36 allegations while introducing new claims of sexual orientation discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.
Attorney Christina Sloan filed the amended and restated Notice of Claim on October 13, continuing to name County Commissioners Bill Winfield and Brian Martinez, as well as County Attorney Stephen Stocks, as participants in creating what the document describes as a “hostile work environment.”
The latest amendment adds former associate planner Bryce Rogers as the 13th complainant and strengthens the legal arguments by attributing the allegations to particular, named officials while expanding claims under federal civil rights law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1981 of Title 42 of United States Code, the Utah Antidiscrimination Act, and the Utah Protection of Public Employees Act.
Investigation continues with no timeline for completion
According to Sloan’s correspondence with the Moab Sun News, the 13th complainant plus additional witnesses have completed their interviews with the county’s investigator, Paul C. Burke. Burke, who was chosen by outside counsel Bryan Pattison, is now beginning to interview county officials involved in the allegations.
However, Burke “could not give me a timeframe on when he will have his report ready (or articulate what the scope of the investigation is),” Sloan wrote.
County Attorney Stocks responds
In a statement to the Moab Sun News, Stocks emphasized his role in initiating the investigation while expressing confidence in the process:
“Six weeks ago, I initiated hiring a neutral third-party investigator. This was my duty but also it was because I have compassion and I fully support accountability in all forms,” he said. “The court of public opinion moves hastily toward judgements; however, investigations must move meticulously to reach findings. I trust the record will reflect the facts as they are. I hope that this entire process allows an opportunity to: grow, learn, and treat each other better.”
County Public Information Officer Melisa Jeffers declined to answer specific questions about the investigation timeline, workplace culture improvements, or the expanded allegations.
“Out of respect for the privacy and dignity of our employees, the County will not comment on the specifics of an ongoing independent investigation,” Jeffers wrote in response to questions from the Moab Sun News.
Jeffers referred back to previous statements from County Administrator Mark Tyner, who stated that Grand County “categorically denies the allegations” and maintained that “during this administration, the County has not received any internal complaints of unlawful harassment or discrimination under its reporting policies.”
However, the amended notice of claim directly contradicts this assertion, stating that complaints have been made “over and over and over again” for at least 15 months through public meetings, private meetings, formal HR complaints, emails, and informal reports. Sloan called the county’s denial “absolutely outrageous.”
Commissioner Bill Winfield and Commissioner Brian Martinez previously issued statements denying the allegations.
36 allegations detail pattern of discrimination
The amended notice expands from 19 to 36 specific allegations, creating what Sloan describes as “a series of separate acts” that “collectively constitute one unlawful employment practice.”
The document characterizes these as “micro-aggressions that communicate hostile, derogatory, and negative messages to female officials, staff, volunteers, and contractors” that have occurred over days and months since January 2023.
New allegations in the October 13 amendment include:
• Making inappropriate sexual jokes and comments directed at female staff (Stocks)
• Discussing and undermining female victims in pending or reported sexual assault cases with female staff not employed by the County Attorney’s office (Stocks)
• Providing gifts of wine and cheese to female staff at work (Stocks)
• Gossiping and spreading misinformation about the personal lives of female staff (Winfield; Stocks)
• Using the media to damage the reputation of female officials, staff, volunteers, and contractors (Stocks)
• Leaking information from closed sessions or attorney-client privileged communications to third parties and the media (Stocks)
• Commenting on the appearance of gay female staff (Winfield)
The complaint also adds allegations of retaliation “for participating in protected activities, including filing of this Notice of Claim and participating in interviews with the County investigator, which retaliation includes demotions and budget reductions.”
New legal claims strengthen case
The amended notice adds two significant new legal claims:
Sexual orientation discrimination: The document now explicitly claims discrimination “on the basis of sexual orientation,” describing the harassment as “sexist and homophobic, or stems from sexism and sexual prejudice.”
Whistleblower retaliation: The amendment adds a claim under the Utah Protection of Public Employees Act, alleging that one complainant’s contract was terminated “for whistleblower reporting activities to the Utah Attorney General’s Office.”
Current and former complainants
The 13 complainants now include:
Current county employees and officials:
- Lisa Ceniceros, Building Inspector
- Commissioner Trish Hedin
- Cristin Hofhine, paralegal
- Commissioner Mary McGann
- Anna Sprout, Responsible Recreation Coordinator
Former county employees:
- Renee Baker, former HR Director
- Tara Collins, former Assistant Airport Director
- Tammy Howland, former Airport Director
- Machael Layton, former planner
- Laura Long, Grand County Planning Commission member
- Mallory Nassau, former County Administrator
- Kristine Rogers, former managing public defender
- Bryce Rogers, former associate planner
What the complaint demands
The complainants are demanding:
• Public apology and acknowledgment that the county failed to protect women from an unsafe, discriminatory workplace
• Public censure of Winfield, Martinez, and Stocks
• Meaningful harassment training and education with mandatory annual participation
• Assignment of outside counsel and dedicated budget to the HR Department
• Updates to Grand County Commission Policies and Procedures to prohibit commissioner interference with department and staff operations
• Attorneys’ fees and costs for filing the complaint
• Financial compensation for some women for lost wages, damage to reputation, and mental anguish
Timeline and next steps
Grand County has until mid-November to respond to the original September 15 notice of claim before the complainants can file a formal lawsuit. The amendments do not reset this timeline.
The county initiated an independent investigation in early September after Commissioner Mary McGann raised the allegations publicly during a contentious commission meeting.
According to the amended notice, the alleged conduct “has not only made the complainants physically and emotionally ill, but it has also unreasonably interfered with their work performance” and “has led, in many instances, to discipline, resignations, demotions, terminations, and FMLA leave for female staff and contractors.”
The next Grand County Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, at 4:00 p.m. at the Grand County Courthouse.
Related coverage:
- New allegations added to Grand County discrimination complaint, County Attorney named (September 22, 2025)
- 10 women file discrimination claim against Grand County – first step toward potential lawsuit (September 15, 2025)
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