After making a shocking announcement last Sunday evening that he would be entering rehab to address PTSD and alcohol-related issues, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher is facing a damning lawsuit filed by a former county employee wherein he is accused of sexual assault, battery and harassment.
This past Sunday, March 26, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher released a statement announcing he has long suffered from post traumatic stress associated with military combat combined with childhood trauma. He further stated he would be entering an extended inpatient treatment center for issues with PTSD and alcohol abuse, as well as dropping out of the race for California State Senate. The news instantly made headlines with many speculating what caused Fletcher to make such a surprising announcement.
We at SanDiegoVille subsequently received information that the reason behind Fletcher's announcement was due to an extramarital affair he had with a San Diego MTS public relations employee. Then today, just as we were about to email him for comment, Fletcher's office released another statement, this time admitting that a lawsuit was filed with the San Diego Superior Court by one "Ms. Figueroa." Fletcher claimed the allegations contained in the lawsuit were false, but admitted to a "terrible mistake engaging in consensual interactions with someone" outside his marriage. Fletcher has been married to former California State Assemblywoman and recent breast cancer survivor Lorena Gonzalez (pictured with him above) since 2017.
The lawsuit (Case Number: 37-2023-00012828-CU-OE-CTL) against Nathan Fletcher, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, and Does 1-20, was filed in San Diego Superior Court by former San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Public Relations Specialist Grecia Figueroa on Tuesday, March 28. The complaint alleges Sexual Harassment, Failure to Prevent Sexual Harassment and Retaliation, Sexual Assault and Battery, and Whistleblower Retaliation. Figueroa, age 35, has worked for the San Diego MTS as a marketing and public relations specialist since June 2019 but was no longer with the company as of February of this year, according to her LinkedIn page. Fletcher, age 46, has been Board Chair of the MTS since late 2019. His second term was scheduled to end in December 2023, but he unceremoniously stepped down from the position yesterday.
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| Photo from Grecia Figueroa's LinkedIn |
In the lawsuit, it is alleged that Fletcher once described the Defendant as a "natural Peruvian beauty." It is further alleged that Fletcher began to frequently view and "stalk" Ms. Figueroa's Instagram account although he did not follow her. She also claims he began "paying closer attention to her during MTS board meetings and news conferences." Strange online and social media interactions apparently continued, then on February 14, 2022, Valentine's Day, Fletcher allegedly approached Ms. Figueroa in a parking lot and "wrapped his arm around her shoulder (without her consent), and commented on one of her recent social media posts." The complaint further alleges that Fletcher began having online and in person conversations with Ms. Figueroa, with screenshots included, insisting on discretion all the while.
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Screenshots contained in Grecia Figueroa's complaint. |
Eventually, it is alleged Fletcher began to solicit Ms. Figueroa to meet him outside of work and requested she meet him at his hotel, which he and his family were living in while repairs were being made at their home following an arson fire earlier that year. When she eventually agreed to meet him, it is claimed he "quickly asked to kiss Ms. Figueroa" in the hotel stairwell. It is stated that she denied his advances. The complaint then goes on to allege and detail multiple allegations of sexual assault by Fletcher against Ms. Figueroa.
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| More screenshots from the complaint. |
After several months of alleged communications and what is described by Plaintiff as unwanted sexual interactions, Ms. Figueroa claims she was abruptly terminated from the San Diego MTS on the same day Fletcher announced his run for California State Senate, February 6, 2023. The Plaintiff further alleges other members of the MTS and county staff were knowledgable of her inappropriate interactions with Supervisor Fletcher. It is further claimed that Fletcher and his wife threatened to sue Ms. Figueroa earlier on the same day Fletcher made his very public announcement that he would be seeking treatment for PTSD and alcohol issues.
On January 12, 2022, a fire authorities believe was set intentionally occurred at the home of Nathan Fletcher and Lorena Gonzalez. No arrests have been made in that case.
We reached out to Nathan Fletcher, Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher, and Grecia Figueroa for comment but did not receive any response by time of publishing.
The full civil complaint is below.
This is a developing story and we will update the article as we receive more information.
