The San Mateo County District Attorney has cleared the head of the deputy sheriff's union of wrongdoing for alleged timecard fraud amid ongoing turmoil within Sheriff Christina Corpus' office.
The San Mateo County District Attorney has cleared the head of the deputy sheriff's union of wrongdoing for alleged timecard fraud amid ongoing turmoil within Sheriff Christina Corpus' office. On Monday, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe released a statement in the case of Deputy Carlos Tapia, the president of the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Tapia was arrested by the sheriff's office on Nov. 12 for allegations of grand theft and obtaining money by false pretenses. 'No one is above the law. We are committed to accountability at every level. While these actions are difficult, they are necessary to uphold the integrity and trust of our office, and our community,' Corpus said at the time.'I will continue to faithfully represent the interest of our union members and I will look forward to the district attorney's review of this investigation,' Tapia said following his arrest. 'And I'm confident I will be vindicated.' The following day, the sheriff's office submitted the case to the District Attorney for review. Following the month-long investigation, the district attorney said Tapia would not be charged and that the matter was closed.Wagstaffe said Monday, 'We have concluded based on the follow-up investigation that no crime was committed by Deputy Carlos Tapia, that the complete investigation showed that there was no basis to believe any violation of law had occurred, and finally that Deputy Tapia should not have been arrested.'According to the DA, the original investigation by the sheriff's office was 'extraordinarily limited' and 'did not involve necessary follow-up investigation,' noting that it was conducted entirely by an assigned acting assistant sheriff who reviewed Tapia's timecards.'The Acting Assistant Sheriff noted in his report that the investigation was on-going and more needed to be done. Nevertheless, the Assistant Sheriff reported that the Sheriff's Office executive leadership directed that Deputy Tapia be arrested on November 12, 2024 without that additional investigation being conducted,' the DA's office said.During the DA's follow-up investigation several interviews were conducted, including with Tapia, the acting assistant sheriff, Tapia's supervising sergeants and lieutenant, management analysts from human resources, the assistant county controller and others. Following the investigation, the DA's office said there were some clerical errors in which work hours were coded, but 'nothing' showing criminal intent or criminal conduct. There were no monetary losses to the sheriff's office from the coding errors.'It is my conclusion that the evidence establishes without question that Deputy Carlos Tapia did not commit grand theft, theft by false pretenses or any sort of timecard fraud,' Wagstaffe went on to say.The DA's conclusion is a blow to Corpus, who has been facing calls to resign following multiple allegations of misconduct. On the same day Tapia was arrested, an independent report was released, accusing Corpus of bullying, using racist and homophobic slurs, conflicts of interest, and having a personal relationship with her chief of staff, Victor Aenile.The San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff's Association along with the Office of Sheriff's Sergeants unions have accused Aenlle of creating a toxic work environment and interfering with protected union activities.Amid the turmoil, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved a proposed charter amendment to be placed before voters that would give them the power to remove an elected sheriff for cause. Currently supervisors do not have the power to remove Corpus from office.Voters would decide on the measure in a special election that would take place in March 2025.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
First U.S. case of mpox variant reported in San Mateo CountyThere is no evidence that the strain is spreading in California or the U.S., and the risk of contracting Clade I mpox in the U.S. remains low.
Read more »
Grand jury indicts former San Mateo County Community College District chancellor on fraud chargesProsecutors allege former chancellor Ron Galatolo steered lucrative construction contracts to bidders who gave him gifts and financial benefits
Read more »
San Carlos becomes 1st city in San Mateo County to call on sheriff to resignThe San Carlos City Council's vote follows the release of an explosive report on Sheriff Corpus by an independent investigator.
Read more »
San Mateo County supervisors moving forward with removing controversial sheriffThe San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is scheduled to vote on a charter amendment to allow them to remove embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus from her position.
Read more »
Controlled burn planned for Monday on San Mateo County coastExpect column of smoke visible for miles from Pescadero operation
Read more »
San Mateo County has 6th domestic violence death this year, suspect arrestedPolice say Juan A. Garcia, the man arrested for the stabbing, called police himself.
Read more »