Deposition sheds light on Shook letter
By Melanie Davis
melanie@highcountrymedia.net

Unless a settlement is reached soon, a sexual harassment case against former Watauga County Sheriff Mark Shook filed by Paula Townsend, then chief deputy, will go to trial this fall. The case is scheduled for final pre-trial negotiations on Sept. 12. If an agreement is not reached at that time, jury selection and trial will commence in federal court in Statesville on Oct. 1.

Both parties have filed separately for summary judgments, a procedure asking the court to give final judgment on the grounds that there are no further questions and no need for a trial.

Depositions recently released by the federal court clerk’s office provide more information about the case, including a much-discussed personal letter written by Shook to Townsend and segments of depositions:
The handwritten letter, included as an exhibit with the depositions reads:

Paula,
I wanted to write you this in case something did happen to me. I really appreciate all that you have done for me and all the long hours and hard work. That means a lot to me.
I also wanted to take sometime and write out how I feel about you.
Some people can sing songs, write poems, and paint pictures to express their feelings. I have a hard time doing this, especially speaking. So, I wanted to write mine down.
Paula, I didn’t make it up or lie to you when I told you that I have loved you for years now. New Year’s Eve just gave me the chance to show you a little of how I feel. I know that we will probably never be together, to share feelings or love. In my heart we have, will, and do. We have walked along the beach watching the sunrise, we have stood on a mountaintop watching the sunset, we’ve laid on a blanket watching the stars at night, and I’ve held you in my arms while you were sleeping.
If something does happen to me I hope that you will always carry a piece of me in your heart.
I want you to know that you will never be alone because I will always be there to protect and comfort you.
Well, I guess I’ve told you about as much as I can so, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing.
Love, Mark.

In a deposition, Shook said he wrote the letter in April 2003 at the time he alleges to have received many death threats from people suspected of operating methamphetamine labs.

Shook stated in the deposition that he wrote several letters to “a lot of people that mean a lot to me.”

Shook testified that he did not give the letter to Townsend. He stated he left the letter on the legal pad in his office and that Townsend took the letter from the legal pad, though he is uncertain when.

The deposition continued by asking clarification on each segment of the letter beginning with the statement “I have loved you for many years now.” Shook testified “... we were friends, and I love my friends.”

The New Year’s Eve referred to in the letter was Dec. 31, 2002. Shook and Townsend were in a patrol car together on a stakeout. “That is when we started talking about our [marital] problems, and I started trusting her,” Shook said.

Throughout that paragraph, romantic settings are described. Shook testifies those events never happened.

“That’s a metaphor for, in my heart, we’ve done these things because my spouse don’t like doing that and she said that Randy [her former husband] didn’t like to do that. She enjoyed doing those things, and I enjoyed doing those things too. We shared a lot of things in common.”

Townsend testified that Shook came into her office and hand delivered the letter. After reading it, she testifies she stored the letter in the safe in her office until the time of her termination. Shortly after her termination, Townsend stated she gave the original letter to her attorney and kept a copy for herself. Townsend said she also gave copies of the letter to friends including former sheriff Red Lyons.

During depositions, attorneys raised questions about gifts and birthday cards from Townsend to Shook.

Among the gifts were an engraved desk clock and a pair of orange boxer shorts, which Townsend testifies was a “novelty gift” because of the color of the inmates’ clothing.

One birthday card in particular was singled out during the examination. The card text is “You know me inside and out. You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit. How I was sculpted from nothing to something, Psalms 139:15.” Added in Townsend’s handwriting was, “I hope you have a great birthday, Paula.” Shook received this card in December 2004.

Townsend was fired from her position as chief deputy in July 2005. Townsend submitted a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission within a month of her termination.

After pursuing the several legal channels, the civil lawsuit was filed in June 2006 accusing Shook of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment and disparate treatment.

Watauga County has also been named in the lawsuit. Townsend claims county officials knew of the treatment she felt she received from Shook, and the county did not take action against Shook. County attorney Andrea Capua said, “I can’t find any evidence these complaints were ever reported.”

Townsend is asking for punitive damages and compensation for emotional pain, mental anguish, legal costs and wages lost from her $50,000-plus annual salary.

Shook has filed a counter claim of defamation against Townsend. He continues to state his innocence in the accusations made by Townsend and states the lawsuit cost him the 2006 election.
Since the suit was filed, Townsend has taken a job as security chief for a local gated community.

For more information from the depositions, see the Wednesday edition of the Watauga Democrat.