
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990                   TAG: 9006060331
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Leslie Taylor
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BOTETOURT SHERIFF SUED BY EX-DEPUTY OVER FIRING

A former Botetourt County sheriff's deputy filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Sheriff Norman H. Sprinkle, claiming he was fired without cause and in violation of the department's personnel rules and regulations.

Wolfgang Oedel brought the suit in U.S. District Court in Roanoke. Oedel had been employed with the department for six years when he was fired in 1988.

Despite certain department disciplinary rules, Sprinkle "did not investigate acts of misconduct alleged against [Oedel], and if [Sprinkle] had investigated the allegations, [Sprinkle] would have found the allegations to be false and without foundation," the suit states.

"The alleged misconduct involved [Oedel's] freedom of speech and freedom of association as secured to him by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States."

Contacted Tuesday, Sprinkle declined to comment. Neither Oedel nor his attorney could be reached for comment.

Oedel alleges that he requested information to pursue an appeal of his termination but that Sprinkle never responded, a violation of department rules.

Oedel is asking that he be reinstated, that he be paid back wages "or in the alternative, future wage loss" and $100,000 in damages.

by CNB