CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A former special agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation says he was discriminated against and forced to step down from the agency because he's Hispanic.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports Shawn Puente sued in district court last week claiming that his commander called him a slur referring to Mexican-Americans and that he received poor performance reviews between 2011 and August 2014.

The lawsuit also states that in October 2014, supervisors told Puente that he would be transferred from Cheyenne to Casper, a move "not justified by a legitimate reason."

Puente filed a discrimination complaint and was told about two months later the agency planned to dismiss him. After receiving that notice, he resigned.

Attorney General Peter Michael, whose office will represent DCI in the case, declined to comment.

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