LEWISTON – A woman who claims she was sexually harassed while working at a local restaurant as a waitress and bartender has found a key supporter in her case against the restaurant’s owner.

An investigator for the Maine Human Rights Commission has found reasonable grounds to believe that Stephanie Dustin was subjected to severe and persistent sexual harassment by Kenneth Daigle, the owner of Little Joe’s Restaurant.

“The frequency of Mr. Daigle’s propositions, the physical assaults upon private parts of her body, would have caused a reasonable woman under similar circumstances to feel compelled to leave employment,” wrote Paul Pierce, the chief investigator for the rights commission, in a report released Tuesday.

Daigle denied all of Dustin’s allegations and he accused her of trying to make quick money at his expense.

“I did absolutely nothing wrong,” Daigle said when reached at his restaurant. “I’m actually the victim here.”

The restaurant owner acknowledged that he paid a $100 fine last year for an assault charge that Dustin pressed against him. That criminal charge stemmed from an incident on Jan. 30, 2002.

Dustin claims she was washing dishes in the kitchen when Daigle walked behind her and put his hand on her buttocks. She claims that she pushed him away and yelled, “Don’t touch my ass, what do you think you’re doing?”

Then, Dustin alleges, Daigle replied, “Well then, can I touch your breasts?” as he placed his hand on her right breast.

Dustin finished her shift that night, then never returned to work, according to the investigator’s report.

Daigle denied touching Dustin’s buttocks or breast. He said he simply touched her hips to move her out of the way. He also denied other allegations about various incidents that Daigle claims took place during her month on the job.

She alleges that during her second week there, Daigle told customers that he hired her because she had nice legs. She also claims that he once told her that she would make more tips if she wore dresses.

Daigle acknowledged that he hires “cute” girls because they draw customers, but he denied talking to customers about Dustin’s legs.

On another occasion, Dustin alleges, Daigle asked her to make a bet with him in which she would give him a private lap dance if he beat her at pool. The former waitress also claims that Daigle asked her to be his mistress and that he once tried to put his hand on her breast while giving her a ride home in a snowstorm.

Denying the bet and the incident in the car, Daigle accused the investigator for the rights commission of not doing a thorough job.

“I’m a good business man,” he said. “I run a nice, clean establishment here.”

Investigator Pierce’s report will be forwarded to the rights commission. The panel is scheduled to vote on the case at its meeting on Dec. 8. If the commissioners vote to accept the investigator’s recommendation, finding reasonable grounds for discrimination, Dustin will have the option of filing a civil lawsuit against Daigle with the commission’s support.

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