Former Rio Rancho Mayor Kevin Jackson has filed a countersuit against the former nonprofit n Family Lifeline Inc. n which is suing him.

Jackson is demanding a jury trial.

Jackson names 15 people associated with Family Lifeline Inc. in the suit. His charges include conversion, slander, malicious abuse of process, tortuous interference with business relationships, unjust enrichment and false imprisonment.

Family Lifeline sued Jackson in Sandoval County’s 13th Judicial District Court in January claiming he used at least $25,000 of the federal grant money he secured for the nonprofit for personal purposes, claiming that Jackson’s actions were “deliberate, wanton, wrongful and malicious” and violated federal grant rules and employment terms.

Jackson’s attorney David A. Standridge filed the countersuit on April 1.

In the suit, Jackson is seeking punitive damages, asking for a jury trial, court costs, attorney fees and other relief the court deems proper.

In Jackson’s suit, he said he was falsely imprisoned in his office by some of the counter defendants who threatened to go to the media if he didn’t resign from Family Lifeline immediately.

Jackson claims that when he tried to leave his office, he was physically blocked. Jackson also claims that the locks were changed twice to prevent him from retrieving his personal assets, including artwork, furniture and other property.

The suit claims some counter defendants contacted Rio Rancho City Council members and the media to slander him.

Some of the slanderous comments, Jackson’s suit claims include saying he had broken laws, was going to jail, had misappropriated funds and that he had been fired.

Also, in the suit, Jackson said that he met with the Board of Directors and they decided not to pursue action.

Jackson claims he was denied a 17 percent share of a grant he was entitled to for retirement and health care expenses and was denied reimbursement for unused vacation time.

Jackson said he tried to clear his name and brought a Certified Public Accountant to Family Lifeline to audit the books, but was refused.

Anthony Oliva, Leonie Oliva, Michael Holland, Rebecca Holland, Dale Lumley, Sherry Lumley, Mark Burton, Veronica Nolan, Sue Alice Erikson, Alicia Whitacre, Anita Bruce, Ashley Salazar, Roxanne Coe and Lois Coleman are named as the counter defendants.

Family Lifeline filed a civil complaint in the 13th Judicial District Court in Sandoval County on Jan. 14, asking for $25,618 in compensatory plus punitive damages determined by the court.

The complaint accuses Jackson of misappropriation of funds, embezzlement and conversion.

The Family Lifeline Inc., formerly known as Best Choice Educational Service, Inc, accuses Jackson of spending $25,618.68 on personal travel, personal meals, personal lodging, payment of legal penalties and fines and contributions to his own nonprofit, the New Mexico Family Council.

In the suit, Family Lifeline claims that Jackson severely damaged its reputation and that the organization must refund the misappropriated $25,618.68 to the U.S. Department of Health. Plus, the organization lost all federal funds for the fiscal year, which began October of 2007.

Other expenses incurred by Family Lifeline Inc. include hiring an auditor to track down and list the improper expenses and hiring an attorney.

Paul Becht of Albuquerque is representing Family Lifeline Inc.

The case was originally assigned to Judge Louis McDonald, but has been reassigned to Judge George Eichwald.

Lifeline filed Jackson in May of 2007 and in July of 2007, Jackson resigned as mayor of Rio Rancho.

He is believed to be living in Pennsylvania.