By Frost McGahey
Investigative Reporter
[Editor's Note: Names of victims have been changed to protect their privacy.]
In documents obtained from the Human Rights Bureau of the NM Department of Workforce Solutions, three more claims of alleged sexual and race discrimination have been uncovered. In addition, a claim was filed for alleged retribution because a staff member supported a claim for sexual discrimination by another employee. Here are excerpts:
In May 2017, Rose Trent, Ph.D. filed a third compliant* of alleged sexual discrimination. She said the harassment started in July of 2016. (Otero was hired in February 2016). She claimed, "Otero offensively touched me. He placed his arms around me and pulled me close to him. Otero invades my personal space. He gets too close to me.
Otero also looks at me in an inappropriate manner. I have witnessed him looking at me in a sexual way. I was uncomfortable being alone with him."
In February of 2019, Teresa Jimenez, Director of Operations filed a complaint for alleged sexual and race discrimination. (Otero is Hispanic). Jimenez had worked for HMS since 2009. Her complaint states, "CEO Otero treated me worse due to my gender. He often tries to hug me or hug me in an unwelcome manner. I did not witness Otero hug male employees.
She continued, "Multiple female employees reported Otero treated them worse due to their gender. To the best of my knowledge, no appropriate remedial has been taken against Otero. Instead, HMS rewarded him by extending his contract.
"I was also treated worse because of my race. I am a Hispanic female. Otero has terminated Hispanic females from leadership positions, such as the Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Dental Director. After HMS terminated the COO, I was the interim chief operating officer, but not paid as such. When I talked to Otero about becoming permanent, he told me I could not because I did not have a bachelor's degree.** I questioned this justification as the previous COO did not have one. Otero then changed his reason."
Jimenez filed her complaint after Lassiter, Diaz, and Trent had previously filed their complaints.
A charge of alleged Retaliation was filed by Nate Sheridan for providing information regarding the Charge of Discrimination brought by Teresa Jimenez who was his supervisor. Sheridan states, "I have witnessed Otero pick on Jimenez during meetings and try to embarrass her. Otero seems obsessed with her. He goes out of his way to talk to her and be in her face. I thought he was trying to intimidate her. He also calls and texts her more than before. He called her to find out about the weather."
"On March 7, 2019, I was introduced to Paula Maynes who was investigating sexual harassment and discrimination at HMS," he continued. "I told her that Otero was told at his previous employment (Gila Regional) he should not hug employees. Numerous female employees have alleged they were sexually hugged by him.
"Since I provided this information, I have been retaliated by having anonymous complaints made against me, and the Nursing Director, Albert Diaz, tried to get me written up for a non-incident. Diaz also encouraged another employee to go to HR and file a complaint.
"I do not feel going to Human Resources will do anything because HR is run by Otero. Cathy Diaz (the director) reports to him."
In February 2020, Dolores Cortez filed a complaint alleging race discrimination. Cortez was a social worker who worked for HMS beginning in February 2018.
She claims," I feel that I have been discriminated against, bullied, and retaliated against by HMS staff and Mental Health management because of my race. I have not been afforded the same accommodations and respect as my Caucasian peers.
"Despite my requests, I was not provided the proper supervision hours. I reported this to my supervisor who responded that inept supervision was part of the learning process. My Caucasian peers, however, received the requested and required hours.
"In addition, HMS refused to approve time off for board mandated training which is required to maintain my license. My Anglo peers are not denied this training."
After 2020, there are no more allegations of Race, Retaliation, and Sexual Discrimination against Otero.
*See two prior articles on complaints.
HMS CEO's First Sexual Harassment Lawsuit (grantcountybeat.com)
HMS CEO's Second Sexual Harassment claim Same Time as the First One (grantcountybeat.com)
**Otero's DBA (doctor of business administration) is from the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico. It is a private Christian university, not a public institution and therefore not part of the New Mexico public university system.
