Jury sides with officers in bias case

A jury awarded three Yellowstone County sheriff's officials a total of $945,000 in damages Friday after finding their commanders discriminated against them then retaliated when they complained.

Deputies Chris Romero and Roge r Bodine and Civi l Transport Officer Dave Valdez filed the federal lawsuit in 2006 against the sheriff's office, Sheriff Jay Bell, the late Sheriff Chuck Maxwell, former Capt.

Richard Brennan and Capt. Bill Michaelis.

Testimony in the case ended Thursday.

The jury awarded $100,000 to each of the three defendants after finding Bell, Michaelis and Brennan retaliated agai...