BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Town of Union Supervisor Rose Sotak has landed herself in some hot water.

After 22 current and former town employees filed reports against her, saying she verbally harassed them, an investigation was underway.

The case was then handed over to a grand jury to determine whether or not the allegations rose to a criminal level.

"I don't want to confuse two things. There's workplace harassment, which is very serious. That's separate. And then there can be a criminal case. And so, without getting into the facts I don't want anybody to assume that there's a crossover or not a crossover in those two things," said Steve Cornwell, Broome County District Attorney.

She was indicted last week on five criminal charges, the most serious being corrupt use of position or authority, a Class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison, if convicted.

According to court paperwork, that specific charge stems from allegations that Sotak made threats against employees in an effort to influence votes in 2015.

Documents also say she threatened to remove an employee for personal gain.

She also faces four misdemeanor charges including obstructing governmental administration in the second degree.

This comes after she allegedly tried to prevent an official function relating to her investigation.

All four carry a maximum penalty of one year in county jail.

District Attorney Steve Cornwell says even though she's a public official, the case will be handled like any other.

"My office will continue to prosecute cases the same we have since the day we took office, without fear and without favor," said Cornwell.

Since the beginning of this investigation, Sotak has demanding an un-redacted copy of the full report against her.

The town, however, fears that could open employees up to retaliation.

In court documents released to us this week, Sotak claims various department heads and employees in the town became complacent.

She also says their attitude compromised the welfare of the town.

Sotak acknowledged that at times she was harsh, but says she never overstepped her bounds.

Employees, however, say Sotak repeatedly used demeaning language toward them.

This included calling them "useless," and telling one individual that they belonged "in a mental institution."

The district attorney did not indicate what would come next in the court process but a tentative trial date is set for July 24.