Hocking County prosecutor hit with sexual discrimination lawsuit

LOGAN, Ohio (WCMH) – Two former employees of the Hocking County Prosecutor’s Office have filed a civil lawsuit against the prosecutor and the county, alleging a hostile workplace that involved sexual harassment and discrimination by the prosecutor.

According to the lawsuit, filed on Feb. 9, Prosecutor Ryan R. Black coerced one of the plaintiffs, Kelsey Vanscyoc, into a sexual relationship during the summer of 2022.

Vanscyoc, who was employed as the lead victim advocate/director of the office’s victim service, alleged that Black used “the power and influence of his position” to have sexual relations with her twice over a six-week period. When Vanscyoc reported Black’s “unethical” behavior, she was the victim of a “retaliatory campaign” to get her to quit the office.

During their probation periods in their positions, the plaintiff’s coworkers described the prosecutor’s office as having a “frat house” atmosphere, alleging that Black said most of the problems in the office were attributed to the fact it was a “henhouse.”

According to the lawsuit, when Vanscyoc told Black she was pregnant in early 2022, Black asked her if she wanted him to get a coat hanger to terminate the pregnancy and joked about “pushing her down the stairs to terminate the pregnancy.” When Vanscyoc suffered a miscarriage, Black allegedly said he was happy about it.

The plaintiffs claim that Black also sent shirtless photos of himself to several women in the office and referred to the couch in his office as his “porn couch,” stating to the plaintiffs and another office employee that he “wants to film them on his couch and film them in bikinis.”

Vanscyoc states that after the two sexual encounters with Black, she stopped the physical relationship, at which point, she claims Black began retaliating against her, ultimately demoting her and forcing her to resign.

“Plaintiff Vanscyoc was traumatized by Defendant Black’s abusive, intimidating and terrifying behavior toward her, yet, determined that she would attempt to keep the other female employees safe from harassment and discrimination, and felt it her duty to assume the brunt of Black’s discriminatory practices,” the lawsuit states.

Black also allegedly referred to women, including his then-fiancée, using derogatory terms, screamed at the plaintiffs both in the office and in court, and bragged about pulling a gun on a minor.

The lawsuit claims that Black told a male job candidate that he had “young hot broads” working in the office and that he “could get more.”

The other plaintiff in the lawsuit, Kate Ricketts, a victims advocate clerk from February 2022 to April 2023, witnessed much of the harassment and also suffered professional repercussions for reporting Black's behavior, the lawsuit states.

“Plaintiffs believe their careers and reputations as government employees and victim advocates staff in Hocking County, Ohio have been destroyed by Mr. Black,” the lawsuit states.

The plaintiffs are seeking more than $75,000 in back pay, punitive damages, pain and suffering plus attorneys' fees and any additional damages deemed appropriate by the court.

NBC4 does not normally name victims of alleged sexual harassment, but Vanscyoc and Ricketts’ names appear in the lawsuit, which is available to the public.

Black was elected to the office in 2020. An emailed request for comment to the prosecutors' office was unreturned as of Tuesday night.

The full lawsuit filing can be read below. WARNING: Graphic language in the lawsuit documents. Discretion is advised.