Mark Belton, the Charles County administrator who has been on indefinite paid administrative leave since mid-2023, filed a voluntary dismissal of his federal employment discrimination lawsuit against the Charles County Board of Commissioners on April 13, 2026, following a $550,000 settlement between the parties.
Belton filed the civil action in December 2025 in U.S. District Court after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a determination finding reasonable cause to support his discrimination complaint. The settlement resolves all discrimination claims, which have now been dismissed with prejudice. The agreement states that it is not an admission of wrongdoing by the defendants and includes a full release of all claims against the Charles County Board of Commissioners and individual defendants in both their official and individual capacities.
In addition to the discrimination counts, Belton had included a breach of contract claim in the lawsuit. That claim was also dismissed on April 13, 2026, because there has been no breach of his employment contract. However, Belton retains the right to file a future lawsuit if a breach occurs later. Court records show an earlier partial dismissal of the breach claim without prejudice occurred on March 26, 2026.
The case, docketed as 8:25-cv-04085, centered on allegations stemming from Belton’s long-running disputes with county leadership, including a prior personnel complaint he filed regarding alleged hostile treatment by a commissioner. The EEOC’s reasonable cause finding paved the way for the federal filing after administrative remedies were exhausted.
The $550,000 settlement amount closes this chapter of the dispute without requiring the county to admit liability. Charles County officials have not released additional public statements beyond confirming the resolution in court filings. Belton remains on paid administrative leave while the county continues operations under interim leadership arrangements.
This development occurs in Charles County, part of Southern Maryland’s growing tri-county region that includes St. Mary’s and Calvert counties. The area has seen increased attention to local government employment practices amid broader state and federal focus on workplace discrimination standards. Public employment cases like this often involve complex layers of personnel policy, elected official oversight, and taxpayer-funded resolutions.
Belton has served as Charles County administrator since February 2019, overseeing daily county operations, personnel matters, and budget implementation under the direction of the Board of Commissioners. His extended leave began after internal investigations and board actions related to workplace complaints. The original complaint sought significant damages, reported in local coverage as up to $105 million, though the final settlement reached a much lower agreed figure.
The voluntary dismissal ends active litigation in federal court. No further hearings are scheduled, and the parties have notified U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis of the settlement. Southern Maryland Chronicle and other approved regional reporting have tracked the matter as part of ongoing coverage of Charles County government accountability and leadership stability.
Residents and county employees in the La Plata area and surrounding communities may see this resolution as one step toward clarifying administrative roles and reducing legal costs that can strain local budgets. The settlement funds will come from county resources, subject to standard appropriation processes.
This case illustrates how EEOC investigations can lead to negotiated outcomes that avoid prolonged trials while protecting the rights of both employees and public entities. Charles County, with its mix of suburban growth near the Potomac River and military-related economy, continues to manage public workforce issues under Maryland employment law.
