Adams Center woman receives prison sentence

(WTNY) -- An Adams Center woman who is accusing former Jefferson County Undersheriff Andrew Neff of sexual harassment has been sentenced to prison.

42 year old Michele Bowens was convicted in January on charges of attempted forgery and criminal possession of stolen property. In Jefferson County Court on Monday, Bowens was sentenced to one and a half to three years in prison.

Last fall, Bowens went public with allegations that she had a relationship with Neff and that he continually harassed her after the relationship ended. She has filed a notice of claim, the first step in a potential lawsuit. Neff has denied the allegations. He retired from the sheriff's department last month, but remains under state police investigation over the matter.