A former employee of Kennebec County, Maine, who appeared on the Discovery Channel reality show Naked and Afraid, has been awarded $175,000 in a settlement. Danielle Beauchemin alleged that her supervisor, Arthur True, accessed dozens of nude photos and videos of her from her time on the show through her work computer and her personal Google Photos account.
Beauchemin filed a federal lawsuit in December, claiming that county officials retaliated against her after she reported True's actions. The settlement, reached on August 16, was paid by the county's publicly funded insurer. Beauchemin received $20,000 for lost wages and $84,595 in alleged damages, with her attorneys receiving the remaining $70,405 for their services.
According to the lawsuit, Beauchemin discovered in April 2023 that True had viewed and downloaded explicit images from her Google Photos account, which was linked to her work computer via an old personal cellphone. True later reportedly admitted to law enforcement that he had accessed the files. Beauchemin claimed that county human resources staff minimized her concerns when she reported the incident.
True resigned from his position as emergency management director the day after Beauchemin reported him to Augusta police. An administrative investigation reportedly found that surveillance footage near Beauchemin's office was deleted, two spy cameras were delivered to the building, and tools were placed in the ceiling above her office.
Beauchemin also alleged that county officials retaliated by revoking her service dog's permission to be at work, belittling her, altering her job responsibilities, and ultimately firing her while she was on unpaid medical leave. She stated that these events affected her long-term mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
True is currently facing criminal charges of stalking and invasion of computer privacy. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in July 2024. His legal case has been moved to Lincoln County due to a potential conflict of interest, with a docket call scheduled for January. His attorney has indicated that plea negotiations may be ongoing.
Attorneys for the county stated that the settlement was reached without an admission of liability. The agreement also prohibits both parties from making disparaging remarks about each other, requiring them to state only that Beauchemin left her employment on mutually agreeable terms.
Beauchemin appeared on three episodes of Naked and Afraid between 2014 and 2021 and has also featured in spin-off episodes of the reality series. The show involves contestants attempting to survive in the wilderness with minimal resources and no clothing.