PHOENIX - A NAU employee was "shocked" when the school's former president touched him sexually in a locker room, according to recently released documents.

A copy of the complaint was provided to The Arizona Republic by the Arizona Board of Regents in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

The complaint alleges that Owen Cargol, who was hired as Northern Arizona University president in May, also sent the employee e-mails following the locker room incident seeking "the same level of playfulness and affection."

The employee, whose name was not released, later filed a complaint against Cargol, 50, that led to his forced resignation last weekend.

The employee states in the complaint that on Oct. 23, Cargol, while toweling himself off after a shower in a campus locker room, twice grabbed the employee's genitals. The employee, who was fully clothed, said the incident "took me completely by surprise and shocked me deeply."

"I considered Owen to be a friend and role model," the employee wrote in the complaint, "and had no idea how to respond."

Cargol referred to the incident as "locker-room antics" and described the e-mail as communication between friends, the Republic reported Saturday. Following the incident, Cargol continued sending e-mails to the man, the Republic reported.

"If one reads this as communication between two friends, one trying to counsel and help the other one develop self-confidence, it can be viewed in one light," Cargol told the Republic. "If a person wants to take a more negative perspective, it can be taken in another light."

Regents spokesman Matt Ortega told the Republic, "We believe the documents speak for themselves."

Provost John Haeger was named acting president this week.