Wis. Probes Convict's Job Complaint
      Associated Press
      Last Updated: Aug. 27, 1999 at 8:50:21 a.m.
      MADISON, Wis. - A waste company that refused to hire a convicted murderer 
      may be forced to give him a job if a judge finds it discriminated against 
      him because of his criminal record.
      Gerald Turner, called the ``Halloween Killer'' for the sexual assault and 
      murder of a 9-year-old in October 1973, has filed a discrimination 
      complaint against the Waste Management center. Turner said he was refused 
      a job sorting recyclables because of his criminal convictions.
      An investigator with the Department of Workforce Development found 
      evidence that Turner may have been discriminated against to justify a 
      hearing before an administrative law judge on Sept. 20.
      ``If (Turner) were considered unsuitable for the position of sorting 
      recyclables, it would then appear that he could be lawfully excluded from 
      every other job dealing with other people and with most if not all 
      objects,'' the officer, Charles Phelan, wrote in his report.
      Wisconsin is one of 10 states that bars employers from considering 
      convictions when hiring, unless the crime is ``substantially related'' to 
      the job being applied for.
      Officials at Waste Management noted that students and scout troops 
      regularly tour the plant. There were 15 tours by children during the last 
      school year.
      Company officials also told investigators the job would give Turner access 
      to ``dangerous materials and weapons, used hypodermic needles, and BB 
      guns.''
      But Phelan said in his report that Waste Management employs other people 
      who had been convicted of battery, robbery and disorderly conduct who have 
      access to the same materials.
      Waste Management spokeswoman Lynn Morgan said Thursday the company could 
      not comment on ongoing litigation.
      ``Waste Management's policy is to comply with all applicable employment 
      laws regarding people with criminal records,'' she said. ``Decisions 
      regarding those individuals are made on a case-by-case basis.''
      Turner, 49, was convicted of second-degree murder, child enticement and 
      sexual assault of a child in the death of Lisa Ann French. He was released 
      from prison in 1992 and remains on parole.
      Turner was unavailable for comment Thursday, according to an official at 
      the halfway house where he lives. His attorney did not return telephone 
      calls seeking comment. 


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