", According to the indictment, the alleged criminal activity began in April 2018 with a text from Nichols to attorney Harpaul Nahal, saying, "I need you to meet my buddy that runs the Facebook Executive protection team, followed by: its a potential $50K. In a statement, the sheriff's office said Jensen will be placed on administrative leave immediately. Its a small town community I like interacting with.. For a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team go here. Stromgren recalled a conversation he had with Nielsen: I told him on a couple of occasions I didnt feel comfortable. Most of those applicants did not donate to the Sheriffs political campaign over that time period and fewer than 6% of those non-donors were awarded a concealed gun permit, according to sheriffs office records and publicly available campaign contribution data. Local News | hoped you would put name in hat .Thanks for running !! "People have often said the only way to obtain a permit in Santa Clara County is to make a donation to the sheriff's office.". Comment Policy (updated 11/1/2021): We reserve the right to delete comments or ban users who engage in personal attacks, hate speech, excess profanity or make verifiably false statements. Southern California mountain residents head home, for many its the first time in days The testimonies confirm an earlier report from this news organization that found CCW permits were most frequently granted to high-profile applicants, and that the most common condition for approvals was a reference or order from Smith or one of her top commanders. Comments are moderated and approved by administrators. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges August 31, 2020 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. Here are the five candidates running for sheriff in alphabetical order. Live Bay Area weather updates: Massive trees fall onto homes in Santa An experienced set of fresh eyes is going to help pave the way toward putting an appropriate spotlight on transparency, and building trust within the community, Elder said. Local News | Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen remained on track Wednesday to be elected Santa Clara County's next sheriff. Ricardo "Rich" Urena has been tapped to replace . Between 2014 and 2018, 749 Santa Clara County residents applied for a new CCW permit, according to records provided by the sheriffs department. Coroner releases autopsy report for man shot by deputies Christian West, AS Solutions CEO at the time of the alleged scheme, was charged separately on two felony conspiracy counts. / CBS San Francisco. All of these people do not feel safe, and they feel threatened, Nagaye told San Jos Spotlight. Jensen has also received endorsements from retired county supervisor Blanca Alvarado, Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley, Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran and former sheriff Robert Winter. The division commander is Captain Rich Urena, who serves as the Chief of Police for the Town of Los Altos Hills. That is the County Sheriffs ultimate job duty. Le has been one of the most well-paid Santa Clara County employees for years. Earlier this year, the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit analyzed five years' worth of data and found that donors to Smith's political campaigns were about 14 times more likely to get a concealed weapons permit than those who did not contribute. The Sheriff's Office Parks Patrol Unit provides law enforcement services for the 28 regional parks and lakes managed by the Santa Clara County Parks Department. As the I-Team reported last September, the man suffered brain damage and his parents are suing the county and the Sheriff's Department. There has been a changing of the guard at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office West Valley Division. Kevin Jensen, a retired captain with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, is running to replace Laurie Smith. Santa Clara Co. sheriff's captain among 4 indicted on conspiracy charges James Jensen, Christopher Schumb, Harpaul Nahal and Michael Nichols were indicted in the alleged pay-to-play plot, in which they are accused of brokering a deal for the executive security firm AS Solution to receive up to a dozen concealed-carry weapon permits in exchange for $90,000 in campaign donations to committees supporting Smiths 2018 re-election bid. She previously worked as a reporter for PhillyVoice in Philadelphia and freelanced for The Seattle Times and The Whiskey Wash. She grew up in Sacramento, California, and graduated with a BA degree from the University of Oregon where she majored in journalism and minored in political science. End of an era: San Jose antique shops could disappear, Robes, candles and chants: South Bay official in hot water over religious ceremony, Proposed tax law threatens billions in San Jose funding. All rights reserved, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Campaign Scandal Widens, Donors to Sheriff's Political Campaigns Far More Likely to Get Concealed Gun Permits, Los Gatos Mom Accused of Hosting Alcohol-Fueled Teen Parties Attacked in Jail, Hospitalized, Viral Kids' Star Ms. Rachel Is Taking a Break From Social Media After Backlash Over Co-Star Who Uses They/Them Pronouns, Another Bay Area Storm This Weekend: Rain and Snow Forecast. A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. I would make every attempt and work tirelessly with community leaders to let them know the Sheriffs Office, or law enforcement as a whole, is here for you.. Sources close to the case tell the I-Team's Dan Noyes the removal stems from an unpermitted arbor and barbecue grill Le built at the jail with her own money, but using inmate labor. As the new captain assigned to the West Valley patrol division, Im committed to the legacy weve built here in the city of Cupertino, he said. Smith has not filed papers for reelection or said publicly whether she intends to run. FILE - Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith walks to a news conference in Cupertino, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. "They should not be for sale. Palo Alto police chief enters race for Santa Clara County sheriff, Santa Clara County sergeant steps into sheriffs race, Second challenger joins race for Santa Clara County sheriff, Former opponent challenges embattled Santa Clara County sheriff, https://nationallibertyalliance.org/files/sheriffmemo/Power%20and%20Authority%20of%20The%20County%20Sheriff.pdf, Helen Chapman fights to save San Joses open space, Bejarano: Why I quit my East San Jose school board, Out of work: Beloved San Jose reverend faces uphill climb, Silicon Valley students stranded by shuttered schools, San Jose legislator wants to raise foster age. This DAs office has successfully prosecuted elected officials, correctional officers, sheriffs deputies, police officers, attorneys, business owners and other prominent residents, Rosen said in a statement to this news organization Monday. The DA's investigation began shortly after the general election in 2018, sparked by an inquiry from the Metro Silicon Valley weekly about executive security licensing and an extremely large campaign donation, which was reported in public filings. Command Staff - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara Saratoga installed an Automatic License Plate Reader system at several intersections last spring to track cars coming in and out of the city and deter crime. The 16-page indictment, which you can read here , lays out each defendant's alleged role in the scheme to secure a massive campaign contribution for Smith in exchange for concealed gun permits. County Sheriff's Captain, Prominent Lawyer Charged with Gun Permit Bribery Scheme. . Moreover, he doesn't have the authority to grant permits nor did he receive anything for processing them. Contact Eli Wolfe at[emailprotected]or@EliWolfe4on Twitter. Allen has been in the trenches for bit and dont think he is a good ol boy either. When I had asked him in one of those early conversations I got, like I dont remember the words it was, basically, Dont ask.'. Allen said in his first 100 days in office he wants to meet with every politician in the county and glean ideas about how to improve his office. Hirokawa said Jensen's quick rise to captain after Smith's re-election raised eyebrows in the office at the time. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. Between 2014 and 2019, only about 150 permits were issued or renewed in Santa Clara County. "I know a definitive link to Sheriff Smith has not been established based on these indictments, but I'm interested to see how things develop as this investigation continues into the future," said Chris Long, who applied for a CCW permit in 2019, but was denied after months of waiting. She resigned as sheriff on . Now, Long said he wants to a see a system that treats all applicants equally. The Constitution for the United States of America and its capstone iBill of Rights is the Law of the Land; and all statutes and state constitutions repugnant to the Constitution for the United States of America are null and void. Ricardo Rich Urena has been tapped to replace Capt. In addition Robert Johnson has done his best to avoid transparency. Kevin Jensen said Tuesday that it was "humbling" that two unions want him to run against Sheriff Laurie . Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung Indicted; New Indictment For My unique experience speaks for myself. As of January, he has raised $72,398. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. Prior to being elected as the 29th Sheriff of Santa Clara County, he was the Chief of Police for Palo Alto Police Department (2018-2022). Amy Le, who led the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association (CPOA) and went to bat for Sheriff Laurie Smith in her last election, was served a letter charging her with wrongdoing, stripped of her badge and escorted off the job Friday. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Custody Division is the fifth largest jail system in California, and among the 20 largest systems in the United States. I am the only candidate who has addressed these issues for 30 years, Allen said. From there, he was promoted to lieutenant and came back to Saratoga as the assistant commander of the West Valley Patrol Division. The culture of management can no longer be one of fear and intimidation.. Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California. Rosen wanted to make it clear his office will hold any public official accountable for misconduct. Allen has received endorsements fromReverend Jeff Moore, former president of the Silicon Valley NAACP, and several retired sheriff employees. He said its important to increase the offices transparency. Capt. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office issued the following comment to ABC7 News. If convicted, the defendants could receive prison time. Emergency Contact Information . The new sheriff of San Mateo County, Christina Corpus, has been assembling a command staff that includes a former Realtor who has little law enforcement experience, though he has volunteered with the Woodside Mounted Patrol. Sheriffs Capt. I just want to do it within reason, getting mental health help we need on the front end, and also providing for those people who have to be in the jails.. If you care about your Constitutional rights, vote for the person who UNDERSTANDS and actually WILL uphold the US Constitution and your unalienable rights! SAN JOSE The former CEO of an executive security firm charged in an alleged scheme to trade political donations for concealed-gun permits from the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office abruptly pleaded guilty in the case Monday, in what prosecutors called a significant development for a corruption probe that could threaten Sheriff Laurie Smiths two-decade tenure. Look at all the officers that left for other agencies under his tenure. He said after Friday's news, Sheriff Smith needs to go. The $45,000 personal check, which Nielsen gave to Schumb -- the PSA's assistant treasurer -- represented more than half of the funds raised by the organization prior to the election that year. Jensen's attorney Harry S. Stern released the following statement to ABC7 News: James is devastated by this development. Star witness testifies at California sheriff's civil trial Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. If elected, Jensen said he will focus on addressing staffing and morale decline in the sheriffs office, including the correctional facilities. According to the transcripts, Deputy District Attorney Matt Braker asked Montonye, (Jensen) said that Sung was the individual who brought Martin Nielsen to his attention? to which the investigator replied, Correct. Montonye also testified that Jensen said he was directed by Sung to give the money tell him to give the money to Schumb.. After submitting seven concealed weapon permit applications to Jensen at a meeting, AS Solution manager Martin Nielsen donated $45,000 -- half of the agreed amount -- to the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance, an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. A sheriff's captain was among four people indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges as part of an election campaign scandal tied to Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, the District Attorney's Office said Friday. The county has a similar program, but Jonsen wants to expand it to meet greater demand. The sheriff's race: What they'd do if elected | News | Palo Alto Online Friday afternoon the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told ABC7 News that Jensen was officially placed on administrative leave. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. In a surprise turn, West used the defendants Monday arraignment to plead guilty. A sheriff sergeant with almost 30 years of service in the office, Sean Allen said his platform boils down to transparency, accountability and reform. He replaces Capt. This all took place in 2018, while Sheriff Laurie Smith, who had the authority to grant the CCW licenses, was in a race for reelection, both in the primary and general elections. In 2017, another captain had used inmate labor to build arbors and a storage shed. A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? MILPITAS, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain Amy Le got walked off the job at Elmwood Jail this past Friday in tears, her badge and county vehicle taken away. Jensen later instructed AS Solutions Inc. to have their executive protection agents falsify the names of their employer on their CCW applications, and for those agents living outside the county, to falsify their addresses as well, according to the indictment. I havent been provided any evidence at this point, but broadly speaking I believe that all of the folks involved were legally able to obtain the permits. San Jos Spotlight is the citys first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. Kinda like if you are applying for a cook job and you are not aware that preparing meals is the basic part of your job then what is the point of continuing the job interview? Take a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team. There is only ONE job in the United States that has the job description of defending the US Constitution and protecting We the People. His command experience includes serving as the assistant director of the protective services department at Valley Medical Center, the assistant division commander of the investigations division and the division commander of the court security division. These cameras capture vehicle license plates and compare them with Sheriffs Office databases to alert authorities when a plate matches a listing. The associations members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him. Its not clear if Colton qualifies for sheriff. Nagaye said she wants the Sheriffs Office to improve its relationship with diverse communities in Santa Clara County, and would set up a commission to jumpstart this process. San Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. Urena has a wealth of patrol experience, he told the five-member city council. The second half of the agreed-upon donation amount wasstymied by the DA investigation, authorities said. Jonsen said he has experience overseeing crime reduction from his time as a coordinator of the Antelope Valley crime fighting initiative run by the LA Sheriffs Department. For the average member of the public, no matter how pressing or justified their need, if they follow the procedure laid out on the sheriff's website and mail in an application, it will will not be reviewed. Hes worked in every area of sheriffs office jurisdiction. She is also facing a civil grand jury accusation for corrupt misconduct and a state attorney general investigation into possible civil rights violations in the county jail. Law Enforcement. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain Among 4 Indicted In DA's Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain to Run Against Incumbent Sheriff The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters told San Jos Spotlight Colton is a registered voter in the county, and submitted a signed declaration swearing she meets the requirements of the position. You do the math. Jensen started working as a deputy at Elmwood Correctional Facility in 1985. Hannah Kanik is a Bay Area News Group reporter covering Santa Clara County's West Valley for The Mercury News, East Bay Times, The Los Gatos Weekly and The Saratoga News. "Our concern is not whether the Sheriff grants many or few CCW licenses, but whether they are being granted or denied for the wrong reasons," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a press release. Ex-CEO pleads guilty in Santa Clara County gun-permit case He served various roles for the next three decades, including as an assistant chief in the department of corrections and as jail administration commander. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department - Yelp Jonsen said the county should offer more skill-based programs in the jails for inmates so they can find employment upon release. He was promoted to captain and was assigned to Stanford University before requesting to come back to Saratoga and serve as the division commander. Long, who created a blog to document the CCW process in Santa Clara County, said he was unsurprised by the indictments. San Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. The I-Team also reached out to Reggie Cooks, a public affairs officer for the sheriff's department, and he has not responded at the time this story was reported. Comment Policy (updated 11/1/2021): We reserve the right to delete comments or ban users who engage in personal attacks, hate speech, excess profanity or make verifiably false statements. That is what we are doing here.. To address the offices transparency, Nagaye said she would provide the Board of Supervisors and Office of Correction and Law Enforcement Monitoring with all materials that have been requested. about the scheme. Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . She is also a veteran, having served for five years as a combat medic and training officer in the army. Woman found fatally shot on I-580 off-ramp She is now on paid . In an interview described in testimony from DA investigator Mike Montonye, Jensen said he received direction from Sung, the undersheriff, in brokering the illicit deal. He says it's time for Sheriff Smith to speak out if she knows anything Our jail is among the 100 systems nationwide with an inmate population of more than 1,000. All Rights Reserved. The public information officers sergeants Richard Glennon, Reginald Cooks and Michael Low also testified that Jensen was still heavily involved in shepherding the CCW application process despite being promoted out of the PIO office, in a rapid ascendance from sergeant to lieutenant and then captain in just a few years. Headquarters Patrol - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara Sheriff Robert Jonsen Sheriff's Office Facebook Page Sheriff's Office Twitter Feed Sheriff's Office Instagram Feed Contact Us 55 West Younger Avenue San Jose, CA 95110-1721 Phone: (408) 808-4400 Toll Free: (800) 211-2220 Fax: (408) 294-2467 Email: so.website@shf.sccgov.org The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. "But then when it came time to renew, I was not allowed to renew and those reasons were never explained to me phone calls were not returned," explained Moore. Sheriff Smith herself was not among those indicted Friday, but Rosen said his office's investigation is wide ranging and far from over. He also notedhes implemented community advisory groups in every command position hes held. He started his law enforcement career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office in 1989. The investigation is active and ongoing," said Rosen. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. In addition to bribery, the indictment charges Jensen with conspiring with AS Solution employees to put false information in their CCW license applications. Daily Post Staff Writer. Oakland police investigating spate of shootings that left one dead, five wounded I feel the right person for the job is not the smoothest talking person that sounded good. Santa Clara County Salaries - Sheriff's Correctional Captain Highest salary at Santa Clara County in year 2021 was $472,633. Prosecutors allege that Nielsen and West were connected to Jensen by Schumb, Nahal and Nichols to get $90,000 split between the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance whose assistant treasurer was Schumb, a veteran South Bay litigator and the Sheriffs Advisory Board. She needs to leave and take the stench shes created with her. West Valley: Rich Urena is new captain of sheriff office's West Valley A sheriff's captain was among four people indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges as part of an election campaign scandal tied to Santa Clara County Sheriff. The Santa Clara County District Attorney said the defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges August 31, 2020. at San Jose's Hall of Justice. In Santa Clara County, there's only room for one sheriff in town. Hiscampaign filings dont reflect a total amount raised to date, but Allen said hesraised $21,000. Investigative Services - Office of the Sheriff - County of Santa Clara Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. The transcripts also contain testimony from three former and current sheriffs public information officers outlining a haphazard process with inconsistent criteria on who got the rarely-issued weapons permits.
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