David Jordan: ‘still no consequence for Walter Haase’: NTUA Wireless employee files lawsuit against tribal utility for alleged sexual assault
Navajo Times | Boderra Joe
From left to right, attorney Justin Jones of Farmington, NTUA Wireless general manager Velena Tsosie, and attorney David R. Jordan held a press conference on April 24 at Jordan’s law office in Gallup. The press conference addressed the matters of alleged sexual assault by NTUA general manager Walter W. Haase in 2022.
WINDOW ROCK – Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Wireless general manager Velena Tsosie, who has worked for NTUA for 18 and a half years, is accusing NTUA general manager Walter W. Haase of sexually assaulting her in 2022.
Navajo Times | Boderra Joe
Attorney Justin Jones of Farmington spoke during a press conference on April 24 at David R. Jordan’s office in Gallup regarding the case of NTUA Wireless general manager Velena Tsosie vs. NTUA general manager Walter W. Haase for alleged sexual assault.
On April 24, Tsosie and her two attorneys, David R. Jordan, of Gallup, and Justin Jones, of Farmington, held a press conference at Jordan’s law office in Gallup to provide an update regarding Haase’s litigation.
It was also an opportunity for Tsosie to share her story publicly.
Her story
Since filing her lawsuit against Walter W. Haase, Tsosie said that she has respected the investigation process and has stayed patient and cooperative, even though the incident has caused her mental and emotional anguish.
“I have been angry, irritable, restless, overwhelmed, unfocused, unmotivated, I have trouble sleeping, I have consent fear and worry,” Tsosie said.
After a slight hesitation, Tsosie spoke candidly about Haase assaulting her on March 8, 2022. Parties witnessed the incident. Two days after the incident, on March 10, 2022, Tsosie filed a report with the NTUA human resource manager.
A few days later, on March 14, 2022, Tsosie followed up with NTUA’s HR manager to see how far she was into investigating the incident, to which the HR manager responded that she had not yet conversed with anyone nor interviewed anyone.
Tsosie said she felt no urgency after she reported the incident and recalled the HR manager asking her how she was doing. She said she was thinking a lot and reflecting.
According to Tsosie, the HR manager stated, “It is good to reflect and how to avoid from this happening again.”
On March 18, 2022, the HR manager contacted Tsosie and asked if she would be available for a meeting in Phoenix on March 24, 2022. Tsosie confirmed her attendance, thinking that it was regarding the investigation.
However, she needed to be given more context or specific information regarding the meeting.
On the day of the meeting, Tsosie was in a conference room at a hotel in Phoenix, where she met with the NTUA Wireless board chair, the human resource manager, and the CEO of Commnet, a Delaware company and a managing member of NTUA Wireless, which provides internet, telephone, and data communication services.
During this meeting, Tsosie said she was burdened with finding a resolution to deal with Haase’s behavior. Their demeanor during the meeting made her realize that they were handling her claim poorly and insulting her.
This created an uneasy feeling that made Tsosie believe that the board suggested that she meet with Haase to “talk it through” and “move forward.”
“I expressed that I was very uncomfortable talking to him that I did not want to talk to him,” Tsosie said to the board chairs. However, Tsosie added that the board chairs kept suggesting it and did not seem to care.
According to court documents, those in attendance for the meeting on March 8, 2022, were NTUA Wireless board member John Champagne and two other members of NTUA Wireless, CEO Tom Guthrie of Commnet Newco LLC, Chief Financial Officer Kim Rivera, and Rene Rogue, the director of Fiber Development.
Tsosie said Guthrie was interviewed and then doing nothing to intervene raised her shame and embarrassment.
Throughout the March 24 meeting, Tsosie said the HR manager and the board chairs expressed Haase’s regret, remorse, and harmless intent.
Tsosie felt like this was an attempt by them to sweep this incident under the rug and that they were excusing Haase’s actions, which were “not sexual.”
“I expressed that I did not receive his touching, hugging, kissing, and grabbing of the hands,” Tsosie said she told the board chairs. Their response to Tsosie was that Haase was inebriated, and this was the first complaint they received regarding his behavior.
Read the full story in the May 2, edition of the Navajo Times.
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