ALFRED — A former corrections officer at York County Jail has filed a lawsuit against the County of York, alleging violations of the Maine Whistleblower Protection Act stemming from incidents he claimed took place from 2011 to 2013.

Matthew Willey was employed at York County Jail from March 10, 2008 to March 28, 2014, according to the county’s Human Resources Director Linda Corliss. Sheriff William King, who was chief deputy at the time, said Willey resigned. According to Rick Desjardins, assistant director of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Willey’s certification as a corrections officer was revoked by the academy’s board an in 2014 because it found he had failed to comply with mandatory training in 2013.

The lawsuit, filed on Willey’s behalf by Old Orchard Beach attorney Guy Loranger, alleges that he was treated unfairly by a supervisor.

The lawsuit claims that the supervisor, Sgt. Michael Seaman, overruled Willey’s decision to put two inmates on lockdown in 2011. Willey alleges that after he reported the incident, Seaman assigned him to less desirable work posts and allegedly favored other workers with less seniority for overtime shifts. The suit alleges the supervisor disagreed with other discipline handed up by Willey.

Among other allegations, Willey claimed Seaman ordered him to go outside in the rain with an inmate to pick up cigarette butts.

He alleged Seaman posted a letter, purportedly written by Willey, saying that he had been ”˜starting rumors and stirring the pot,’ in relation to the union contract. Willey said he had voiced concerns about some proposed new elements of the contract.

The suit claims that retaliation against an employee, as Willey alleges, is prohibited under the Whistleblower Protection Act.

He is seeking general and economic damages, lost wages, costs of the suit and interest.

The suit was filed in June at York County Superior Court.

Willey was placed on administrative leave from his job in November, 2013, following a car crash on Route 111 in Arundel that resulted in a drunk driving charge. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor OUI earlier this spring at York County Superior Court in connection with that crash, and was fined $800. As well, his driver’s license was suspended for 90 days.

Sheriff King said he had no comment on the suit. Loranger could be reached for further comment Friday afternoon.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].