Memphis judge banned from Florida resort

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A longtime Criminal Court judge has been banned from a Florida resort after spa employees claimed he sexually harassed them.

Employees at the Silver Shells Beach Resort & Spa in the beach community of Destin filed a complaint against Judge W.

Fred Axley with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday.

No charges were filed, but the sheriff's report states Axley is "barred permanently for sexual harassment of employees."

The sheriff's department's Michelle Nicholson said the 69-year-old judge has been warned that if he goes back to the resort he could be arrested.

Axley was still on vacation Friday and could not be reached for comment.

He has been on the bench since 1982 and was re-elected to another eight-year term in August, In that campaign his opponent made an issue out of sexual harassment lawsuits filed by two female former clerks in 2000 and 2001.

The cases later were dismissed. Axley has said this will be his last term.