A veterans nonprofit and its founder have been found liable for the “pervasive and ongoing sexual harassment” of 12 women and must pay nearly $1.5 million to the victims, the state attorney general’s office said in statement.

The jury also awarded $17,267 in back wages to workers.

The Wenatchee-based nonprofit operated a thrift store, Veterans Warehouse Thrift Store, at 908 N. Colorado St. in Kennewick. The shop was in the former Sports Authority store in early 2021 and closed in November 2022.

The jury found that Thelbert “Thad” Lawson Jr. discriminated against and harassed a dozen women who worked, volunteered or shopped at Operation Veterans Assistance & Humanitarian Aid’s two thrift stores in Kennewick and Wenatchee, the attorney general’s office said.

The harassment included offensive and unwanted touching, sexually-charged remarks and inappropriate requests for sex.

‘Repulsive, inexcusable’

“What happened at (Operation Veterans) is repulsive, inexcusable and illegal,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson in a statement.

In July 2021, a jury found Lawson guilty of one count of assault for sexually grinding his body on a member of the public without her consent.

Operation Veterans posted Lawson’s appeal bond in July 2021, which allowed him to stay out of jail after this conviction. The conviction was upheld on appeal, and Lawson spent 75 days in jail.

Ferguson filed the lawsuit against the nonprofit and Lawson in February 2022 in Chelan County Superior Court.

The jury found they violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

Ferguson said he planned to file a post-trial motion asking the court to prevent Lawson from being in a position to supervise or harass women again in the future, and to award the state its costs and fees resulting from the lawsuit.

The Washington State Human Rights Commission referred the matter to the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division when a former Operation Veterans employee filed a complaint against Lawson, and the commission recognized that Lawson may have targeted multiple employees.

“Absolutely justice served,” Human Rights Commission Executive Director Andreta Armstrong said in a statement about the verdict. “The jury’s decision to award nearly $1.5 million to the victims in the sexual harassment case against (Operation Veterans) and its CEO is a powerful affirmation of accountability and support for those who have endured such unacceptable behavior.”

Lawson is the founder and CEO of Operation Veterans, and its board of directors consists of Lawson’s family and friends, the attorney general said. His wife, Karen Monroe, is the board president. Several employees reported Lawson’s conduct to Monroe, but she either did not believe the employees’ reports or defended Lawson, the attorney general’s office said.

Prior conviction

It’s not Lawson’s first time running afoul of the law.

He was convicted in 1992 in Chelan County Superior Court for hiring someone to murder his then-wife, within three months of being discharged from the Army. The Army veteran served during Operation Desert Storm.

She was not killed, and Lawson served more than 16 years of an 18-year sentence.

“The real story is I’m a veteran. I came home. I was broken,” Lawson told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business in early 2021, citing PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. He said he had ample time behind bars to see how many of his peers were incarcerated.

How to file complaint

Those who believe they have been victims of employment discrimination can file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission at hum.wa.gov/discrimination-complaint or can contact the attorney general at civilrights@atg.wa.gov.