A lawsuit filed in October 2024 accuses Oakdale City Councilmember Jarod Pitassi of exposing himself to a colleague, propositioning her for sex, and making explicit comments during his campaign for office. The allegations concern events that occurred while Pitassi was contracted to work for Conagra Brands, a company based in Chicago with operations in Stanislaus County. Pitassi has denied all accusations.
Pitassi ran for Oakdale City Council throughout 2024 and was elected in November, receiving the most votes among four candidates vying for two open seats. The allegations were made public before Election Day.
“Honestly it saddens me to see that someone and more so others that don’t know me take FALSE allegations as fact,” Pitassi wrote in an October 2024 Facebook post denying the allegations. “This matter will all be handled in due time, thank you to the people that reached out and can see the big picture of what (truly) is going on here.”
Speaking with The Bee, Pitassi said he believes renewed attention to the lawsuit began on social media after former Councilmember Christopher Smith resigned last month following criticism over a repost about Charlie Kirk’s death. He noted that voters were aware of the allegations during his campaign and said recent interest has affected his family.
“It’s very unfortunate. It’s very hurtful to my wife, my kids have been questioned at school about it from adults. … I didn’t say anything, I didn’t do anything,” said Pitassi.
Attorneys representing the woman who filed the lawsuit could not be reached for comment. However, a statement from her included in court documents describes how the alleged harassment impacted her life: “I have had sleepless nights, panic attacks, and breakdowns due to the overwhelming stress and anxiety this has caused. I no longer feel like myself,” she wrote. “The confidence I once had in my career has been replaced with self-doubt, fear and emotional distress.”
The lawsuit claims that while employed as an engineer at Conagra Brands, the woman faced sexually explicit comments and acts by Pitassi as well as retaliation and unpaid wages. In July 2024, according to court documents, Pitassi allegedly pulled over on a country road while driving her back from buying office supplies, exposed himself, and asked her to perform sexual acts; she declined.
Two months later, when she jokingly asked if he was running for president during his council campaign, he allegedly grabbed his genitals and replied: “Yes, I’m going to need a secretary. Do you want to be my Monica Lewinsky?” The suit further alleges repeated inappropriate comments about sex lives and unwanted physical contact by Pitassi.
Court records show an altercation occurred between Pitassi and Ian Sanders—the boyfriend of the woman—at a charity golf tournament in Manteca in September 2024 after Sanders confronted him about his alleged remarks. Accounts differ regarding who initiated physical contact; witnesses reported that all three were involved before police arrived.
Afterward, police responded to Pitassi’s home following reports from his wife that Sanders and the woman came to their door seeking to discuss the harassment allegations. Police later stopped Sanders’ vehicle; he was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI along with assault and trespassing charges against both individuals but records indicate these charges may have been dropped or are under seal.
Both sides sought restraining orders against each other but courts dismissed them all.
The woman’s attorneys claim Pitassi filed a false police report and used connections within law enforcement—he received an endorsement from the Oakdale Police Officers Association—to pursue charges they describe as baseless.
According to court filings, fear of retaliation kept her from reporting harassment by Pitassi directly to Conagra’s human resources department due partly to previous experiences involving another manager at Conagra named Herbert Robinson whom she accused of making inappropriate comments earlier in 2024. HR reportedly responded by instructing both parties simply “to get along” before moving her office next door to Robinson’s; subsequent disciplinary action followed against her rather than him.
Her personnel file reportedly contained documentation related only to disciplinary warnings—not complaints she lodged—according to legal filings supporting her case.
Before filing suit against Conagra Brands—and prior to pursuing civil litigation—the woman filed a complaint with California’s Civil Rights Department which granted her immediate permission (“right-to-sue”) according to documentation reviewed by The Bee.
