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4 more women allege inappropriate touching by fired Plumb’s cashier

Posted at 5:13 PM, Sep 05, 2014
and last updated 2014-09-05 17:45:43-04

WHITEHALL, Mich. — Four more women have come forward alleging inappropriate touching from fired Plumb’s cashier Fred Civis, according to Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tim Maat.

Civis, who has worked at Plumb’s Valu-Rite Foods for nearly 39 years, is currently facing a charge of misdemeanor assault and battery.

According to charging documents, a 25-year-old victim claims they were inappropriately touched by Civis in July.

Civis claims his firing was the result of hugging a customer.   He described the incident to FOX 17: “A pal hug, you put your arm around the shoulder, you put your arm around the shoulder, ya know, you’re best pals.”

After he was fired from Plumb’s, a Facebook page called “Boycott Whitehall Plumb’s for Fred” has since gained nearly 9,000 supporters.

One woman who says she reported Civis’ erratic behavior roughly six months ago says she has recently received death threats from Whitehall community members.

“The things that have been said are disgusting,” Kim Woodland told FOX 17. “I don’t know the details of what’s going on with Fred or this lawsuit, it’s not our business, but I can’t fathom being on the opposite end where a victim is getting victimized in a sense, because someone that’s going to file that complaint, they’re going to be up against what I’m up against.”

Maat said that the sheriff’s department is investigating the alleged death threats and felony charges could follow.