CHARLESTON, WV - A Mingo County woman is suing the state Regional Jail Authority over the alleged sexual harassment committed by Jimmy Vance, whom is also listed as a defendant.

Amanda Chafin filed the lawsuit May 31 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

She says Vance, her supervisor at Southern Regional Jail in Logan County while she was a corrections officer, touched her in a sexually inappropriate manner.

The lawsuit says he subjected Chafin to "unwelcome sexual remarks and physical contact, physical advances and coercive and threatening behavior."

Chafin quit her job at Southern Regional in July 2004 but still works for the Regional Jail Authority.

"On July 19, 2004, Plaintiff left from her employment with Defendant because she could no longer tolerate the hostile working conditions created by Vance," the complaint says.

Chafin charges the defendants with violating the West Virginia Human rights Act, intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery.

She is seeking damages for lost wages and humiliation, embarrassment, distress and loss of personal dignity.

Paul M. Stroebel of Steptoe and Johnson's Charleston office is representing the plaintiff.

Judge Irene Berger has been assigned the case.