A former Baldwin County deputy has filed a lawsuit against the sheriff over alleged religious discrimination and retaliation.
According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, former Deputy Anthony Kiel said supervisors became irate after he spoke to them about his Christian values.
The defendant in the case was former Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack, but that has since been changed. The defendant is now listed as the new sheriff, Anthony Lowery.
The issue began in June 2023 when Kiel posted a Christian Bible verse on Facebook. After receiving a written complaint, Kiel's supervisors told him he did not violate department policy. However, when it came time for Kiel's performance review in December 2023, he said he was promised a 3.5% raise but received a "less favorable raise" due to his Facebook post.
In March of this year, he made another Facebook post that led to him leaving the sheriff's office. It was a comedy video addressing the Nineteenth Amendment. Kiel said he was called to speak with supervisors who called him a "bible-thumping asshole" and to "go be a fu***** preacher if you want to be a fu***** preacher."
Kiel claims the supervisor became irate and told him he would never be promoted because of his Facebook posts.
After a full investigation, it was determined Kiel did violate departmental policy.
"Further, they told Kiel he would be disciplined and likely prohibited from testifying in federal court because of his posts," the lawsuit states.
Kiel said the actions caused him to lose his job and any opportunities for advancement, wages, and benefits and caused extreme mental anguish.
However, in a recent response, Lowery denied the allegations and said Kiel doesn't deserve any settlement or relief. The defendants state the problem was Kiel's attitude and inability to work with others. The Facebook posts, according to the latest filing, said that homosexuals should be put to death and that women shouldn't have the right to vote.
The supervisor then told Kiel that people who were offended wouldn't come to him to explain his beliefs "in part because they perceived him as a 'Bible-thumping asshole' with whom discussion would be fruitless."
They also maintain Kiel's support to repeal the Nineteenth Amendment — the right for women to vote — was damaging.
"And his Facebook post stating that Sen. Ted Cruz thinks God's law is 'horrific and wrong' because of Sen. Cruz's criticism of 'Uganda's Anti-Gay Law,' which criminal penalizes homosexual conduct with sentences up to and including death, thereby reinforcing previous statements stating that anyone engaging in homosexual acts should be killed," the response states.
Attorneys for the defendant says the claims are frivolous, unreasonable and without foundation.
"To the extent that Plaintiff's conduct and speech may be a protected religious observance or practice, it cannot be reasonably accommodated without undue hardship, including, but not limited to, significant disruption to the Sheriff's operations, the potential violation of others' right to a workplace free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of a protected class or protected activity, harming community relationships, impairing citizens' trust in the Sheriff and his officials, and interfering with criminal prosecutions," the lawsuit response states.
Kiel resigned before he could be officially terminated.
Editor's note: The photo and headline have been changed to reflect that Sheriff Anthony Lowery is the defendant currently listed in the lawsuit; not Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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