Former Butler County probation officer speaks out about allegations against judge Share Updated: 6:25 PM EDT Jul 27, 2021 Share Updated: 6:25 PM EDT Jul 27, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER PAUL NVA OSDOL IS LIVE WITH ME.OR REPORT:ER ABOUT THE ONLY THING CRYSTAL STARNES AND JUDGE THOMAS DOERR AGREE ON IS THAT THEY HAD SEX MULTIPLE TIMES AT SHI COURTHOUSE CHAMBERS. EARLIER THIS YEAR THE COURT SYSTEM AGREED TO PAY HER $200,000 TO SETTLE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE JUDGE AND THE COURT SYSTEM. THE SETTLEMENT SAYS DOERR AND THE COURTSO DNOT ADMIT YAN WRONGDOING. >> I ACTUALLY MET HIM AT A CHRISTMAS PARTY INTO THOUSAND FOUR. -- IN 2004. REPORTER: CRYSTAL STARNES SAYS SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A PROBATNIO OFFICER JOB IN BUTLER COUNTY WHEN SHE FIRST MET JUDGE THOMAS DOERR. TWO MONTHS LATER, ON A FRIDAY EVENING, STARNES MET DOERR AT HIS COURTHOUSE CHAMBERS. DOERR DECLINED TO BE INTERVIED.WE IN COURT PAPERS, HE ADMITTED TO HAVING SEX WITH STARNES THAT NIGHT BUT DENIES THE ENCOUNTER WAS UNWELCOME OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN VOLUNTARY. HE ALSO DENIED OFFERING TO HELP HER GET A JOB, SOMETHING SHE ALLEGED IN HER LAWSUIT, BUT WAS NEVER PROVEN. STARNES EVENTUALLY DID LANAD JOB AS A BUTLER COUNTY PROBAONTI OFFICER AND ALLEGES HAVING REGULAR SEX WITH JUDGE DOE IRR HIS CHAMBERS. THOUGH THE JUDGE STATED IN COURT PAPERS THE SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS ONLY HAPPENED TWICE. IN DECEMBER 2006 DOERR SAYS HE TOLD STARNES HE WOULD HAVE NO FURTHER PERSONAL CONTACT WITH HER BUT STARNES SAYS THE RELATIONSHIP CONTINUED UNTIL 20.10 SHE KEPT WORKING IN HIS COURT EVEN AFTER THE RELATIONSHIP END.DE >> IT WAS JUST VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, IT GOT MORE -- UNCOMFORTABLE. REPORTER: IT GOT MORE UNCOMFORTABLE AFTER HER LAWSUIT AGAINST DOERR AND THE COURT SYSTEM BECAME PUBLIC. PAUL DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE ARE -- DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE EAR JUDGING YOU? >> IO. D REPORTER: IN WHAT WAY? >> I JT USFEEL THAT PEOPLE MAYBE FEEL IT WAS MY FAULT. EVEN THOUGH IT WASN’T MY FAULT THEY WANT TO BLAME ME. REPORTER: AS THE CASE DRAGGED ON IT BEGAN TO IMPACT HER HEALTH. >> I SUFFER NOW FROM PTSD AND SEVERE ANXIETY. I HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING, HAVE GASTRO ISSS.UE IT’S ALL A RESULT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM THAT RESULTED IN PHYSICAL HARM. REPORTER: STARNES WENT ON MEDICAL LEAVE AND ULTIMATELY RESIGNED FROM HER JOB IN 2019. EARLIER THIS YEAR THE STATE COURT SYSTEM AGREED TO PAY ST ARNES $200,000 TO SETTLE THE LAWST.UI FOLLOWING ITS OWN INVESTIGATION, THE STATE JUDICIAL CONDUCT BRDOA ISSUED A PRIVATE LETTEOFR COUNSEL TO DOERR. THE BOARD TOLDTA SRNES IT IS THE MOST SERIOUS FORM OF PRIVATE DISPOSITION ORSHT OF FILING FORMAL CHARGES AND EMBODIES ETH BOARD’S OFFICIAL EXPRESSION OF CONCERN AND DISAPPROL.VA DOERR IS STILL ON THE BENCH AND HE REMAINS PRESIDENT JUDGE. HIS ATTORNEY TELLS ACTION NEWS INVESTIGATES THERE IS NOTHING PENDING AGAINST DGJUE DOERR ANYWHERE ANDT' ’S OVER. STARNES SAYS SHE AGREED TO SETTLE THE CASE BECAUSE SHE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON HER FAMI.LY >> I WAS HAPPY FOR IT TO BE OVER BECAUSE LET’S FACE IT, IT’S CAUSED ME A LOT OF STRESS, FAMILY STRS.ES IT’S TAKEN TIME AWAY FROM MY CHILDR.EN REPORTER: SHE HOPES HER CASE INSPIRES OTHERS. >> THEY NEED TO REALIZE NOTOT HAVE FEAR LIKE I DID FOR YEARS, YOU KNOW YOU CAN GET YOUR LIFE BACK. YOU CAN GET CONTROL BACK. REPORTER: EARLIER THIS YEAR, JUDGE DOERR ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD RETIRE FROM THE BENCH AT THE END 2