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The Ninth Circuit has breathed new life into the Sex Harassment Wash Sheriff lawsuit, ruling that claims brought by Christina St. Clair against Okanogan County and Deputy Sheriff Isaiah Holloway can proceed, after a lower court had dismissed them on statute-of-limitations grounds.

A unanimous three-judge panel said Tuesday that each alleged act of misconduct by Holloway effectively reset the clock. St. Clair claims the deputy coerced her into a seven-year sexual relationship that began after he arrested her in 2014, extending through 2021.

U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice had tossed out her claims in February 2024, ruling that she waited too long to sue. But the appeals court said allegations of sexual misconduct after September 2020 remain actionable.

Judges Say Clock Resets with Each Act

Writing for the panel, Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown said, “Even if misconduct stretches back years, each new act stands as its own violation.” She warned that adopting a rigid cutoff would allow abusers to hide behind time limits while continuing harassment.

The panel also reinstated older claims, noting St. Clair alleged she delayed filing because of her drug addiction, fear of criminal repercussions, and Holloway’s leverage as a law enforcement officer. “Awareness of imbalance is not the same as awareness of abuse,” McKeown added.

County Knowledge and Alleged Indifference

St. Clair’s complaint accuses Holloway of coercing her into sexual acts more than 20 times via text and video platforms. She says she felt powerless to refuse because Holloway reminded her of prior arrests and uncharged crimes.

Her uncle even alerted the sheriff’s office in 2014, but according to the lawsuit, the county merely instructed Holloway to stay away—without enforcing the order. St. Clair later learned from a 2021 news article that Holloway allegedly exploited other vulnerable women.

The appeals panel said Okanogan County may have shown a “pattern of indifference,” citing her claims that multiple deputies engaged in similar misconduct and that a 2019 audit found serious gaps in handling complaints.

What Comes Next

The case now returns to the lower court, with the panel directing that St. Clair be allowed to amend her claims against the county.

Her attorney, Tyler Hotchkiss, called the ruling “a victory not just for Ms. St. Clair but for women facing similar abuse of power.” Attorneys for Holloway and Okanogan County either declined comment or did not respond.

The panel included Judges McKeown, Richard A. Paez, and Gabriel P. Sanchez.

St. Clair is represented by Tyler D. Hotchkiss of Foreman Hotchkiss Bauscher & Zimmerman PLLC. Okanogan County is represented by Patrick McMahon of Carlson & McMahon PLLC, while Holloway is defended by Amanda B. Kuehn of Law Lyman Daniel Kamerrer & Bogdanovich PS.