Former Highland County Chief Deputy Brandon Stratton has filed a lawsuit against the Highland County Commissioners, former Sheriff Donnie Barrera and Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins in Southern Ohio District Court on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.

According to a document of Stratton’s complaint, in or around November 2019, Stratton “came into possession of evidence of possible serious criminal activity perpetrated” by someone related to one of the accused. Stratton then came into possession “lawfully” of electronic files “containing evidence of possible assault, sex trafficking, illegal gambling and other serious crimes” by that person.

Stratton then allegedly advised Sheriff Barrera about the “serious concerns” from the electronic data he saw and said that the Sheriff’s Office needed to keep a copy of it as “evidence for use in a criminal investigation.”

“Defendant Barrera agreed at that time and the office maintained a copy of the evidence on a flash drive,” the complaint stated.

Near the end of November 2019, Stratton allegedly reviewed the evidence “and found several pieces of evidence demonstrating serious and dangerous criminal conduct” against the previously stated person. Stratton allegedly notified Sheriff Barrera of that “and encouraged Defendant Barrera to allow him, for the safety of the public, to purse an investigation.”

“Defendant Barrera declined to allow Plaintiff to investigate further,” the filing stated. “Defendant Barrera, knowing his office was in possession of evidence of crimes presenting a danger to the public, advised he would not be pursuing an investigation at that time and forbade Plaintiff from investigating further.”

According to the filing, Stratton was fired on March 20, 2024, following multiple other incidents between the Plaintiff and the defendants, with the firing taking place at the same time as Stratton’s run for Highland County Sheriff.

Stratton is alleging counts of wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation on Ohio Revised Code 4113.52 and wrongful discharge in violation of public policy against the Highland County Commissioners and Defendant Barrera and defamation against Defendant Collins and Defendant Barrera.

Stratton is requesting a jury trial and is represented by Jessica L. Olsheski.

Reach Jacob Clary at 937-402-2570.