Posted Thursday, April 26, 2012 --- 10:15 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Justice says Waupaca County officials have agreed to a consent decree to settle allegations they refused to promote a sheriff's deputy because she was a woman.

The USDOJ filed a federal complaint last year alleging the county promoted a male patrol officer to detective sergeant over Julie Thobaben even though Thobaben was more qualified. The county maintained Thobaben would have ended up supervising her patrol officer husband in violation of the county's anti-nepotism policy.

Under the consent decree, the county must promote Thobaben to detective sergeant within the next three years and pay her $141,641 in back pay, attorney's fees and damages. The county also must review its equal employment and nepotism policies.

The county's attorney didn't immediately return a message.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.