0320070004
11-20-2006
Willie L. Poke,
Petitioner,
v.
Mike Johanns,
Secretary,
Department of Agriculture,
Agency.
Petition No. 0320070004
MSPB No. CH0752060114I1
DECISION
Petitioner filed a timely petition with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission asking for review of a Final Order issued by the Merit
Systems Protection Board (MSPB) concerning his claim of discrimination
in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII),
as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.
Petitioner alleged that he was discriminated against on the basis
of race (African-American) when he was removed from his position of
Social Services Assistant, GS-6, on the charges of sexual misconduct and
providing a false statement in connection with an official investigation.
Briefly, petitioner was charged with having sex with a sixteen year old
Jobs Corps student against her will, and with denying that he visited
another Job Corps student at her residence.
A hearing was held and thereafter an MSPB Administrative Judge (AJ)
issued an initial decision finding petitioner was not discriminated
against as alleged. The AJ found the testimony and statements of the two
students to be credible in upholding the charges against petitioner.
Further, the AJ found that petitioner did not show he was treated
more harshly than similarly situated white employees. As such, he did
not show that the agency's reasons for its action were a pretext for
discrimination. Petitioner sought review by the full Board, which denied
his petition. He then filed the instant petition with the Commission.
EEOC regulations provide that the Commission has jurisdiction over
mixed case appeals on which the MSPB has issued a decision that makes
determinations on allegations of discrimination. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.303
et seq. The Commission must determine whether the decision of the
MSPB with respect to the allegation of discrimination constitutes a
correct interpretation of any applicable law, rule, regulation or policy
directive, and is supported by the evidence in the record as a whole.
29 C.F.R. � 1614.305(c).
Based upon a thorough review of the record, it is the decision of
the Commission to concur with the final decision of the MSPB finding
no discrimination. The Commission finds that the MSPB's decision
constitutes a correct interpretation of the laws, rules, regulations,
and policies governing this matter and is supported by the evidence in
the record as a whole.
PETITIONER'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (W0900)
This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right of
administrative appeal from the Commission's decision. You have the right
to file a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court,
based on the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, within
thirty (30) calendar days of the date that you receive this decision.
If you file a civil action, you must name as the defendant in the
complaint the person who is the official agency head or department head,
identifying that person by his or her full name and official title.
Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your case in court.
"Agency" or "department" means the national organization, and not the
local office, facility or department in which you work.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1199)
If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot
afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court appoint
an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you to file the
action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.;
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �� 791, 794(c).
The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of
the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not extend your time
in which to file a civil action. Both the request and the civil action
must be filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above
("Right to File A Civil Action").
FOR THE COMMISSION:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
November 20, 2006
__________________
Date
2
0320070004
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P. O. Box 19848
Washington, D.C. 20036
2
0320070004