Capt. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. 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. Urena will oversee a division that serves the communities of Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos Hills and unincorporated areas of the county, bringing 14 years of experience into the role. "I think as an elected official, she needs to come forward and tell the SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) A retired captain for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is joining the race to become the next sheriff, now the second opponent looking to unseat current. She would combat this by setting up a retention program. Allen has received endorsements fromReverend Jeff Moore, former president of the Silicon Valley NAACP, and several retired sheriff employees. He also notedhes implemented community advisory groups in every command position hes held. The culture of management can no longer be one of fear and intimidation.. She resigned as sheriff on . He was promoted to captain and was assigned to Stanford University before requesting to come back to Saratoga and serve as the division commander. 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. Nagaye, 51, has served in the Sheriffs Office for 20 years, with the last seven as a supervising sergeant. Nielsens cooperation with the DA was affirmed in the grand jury transcripts, in which he testified that he understood he was still subject to potential misdemeanor charges even if he helped the prosecution. Its not clear if Colton qualifies for sheriff. Flood Advisory issued for Santa Clara Co. . If convicted could get 11 years in prison. 2007-03-13 12:18:00 PDT SAN JOSE -- Santa Clara County sheriff's investigators expect to go to prosecutors this week with their case against De Anza College baseball players suspected of having . Get San Jos Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. Political action committees for the Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association supported Jensens campaign when he ran against Smith in 2014. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office named Valenzuela the new commander of the West Valley Patrol Division last month. Capt. Were partnering with you the readers to make it happen. He said after Friday's news, Sheriff Smith needs to go. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office issued the following comment to ABC7 News. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2014. Sheriff's Department Captain James Jensen, attorneys Christopher Schumb and Harpaul Nahal and business owner Michael Nichols are charged with conspiring with the CEO and a middle manager of AS Solution, Inc. -- an international security company -- to offer a $90,000 bribe to obtain concealed firearms permits (CCW licenses) for the company's executive protection agents. Last . 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In response to a list of questions, Colton referred San Jos Spotlight to aquestionnaireshe filled out for a recent sheriff candidate forum. Smith has not filed papers for reelection or said publicly whether she intends to run. Isnt that what Sheriff Laurie Smith had/has been saying? A Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain, a gun parts manufacturer, and two local lawyers - one a prominent political backer - have been indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges. And if she feels that That was the first step in a conspiracy to "help AS Solution, Inc. manager Martin Nielsen procure hard-to-obtain CCW licenses for his company's executive protection agents," according to the indictment. Christine Nagaye wants to transform theoffice into a national role model. Schumbs attorney Joe Wall also filed a motion to remove the DAs office from the case, citing that Schumb has been a friend and fundraiser for District Attorney Jeff Rosen. He got his start in the West Valley working as a patrol deputy and detective before he was assigned as the investigator for the county councils office. He is unlikely to be any better than the current Sherriff. "I think people should be treated fairly and equally under this system," Long said. He may be contacted at 408-868-6612 or email at email Rich Urena. Valenzuela said Saratogas spike in residential burglaries is on his radar. Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen said he wants to apply his experience working in the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department to fix some of the long-time issues in Santa Clara Countys office. Click hereif you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device. James Jensen, attorney Christopher Schumb, attorney Harpaul Nahal and business owner Michael Nichols allegedly conspired with the CEO and a middle manager of an international security company to offer a $90,000 bribe in exchange for concealed weapons permits, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. | All donations are tax-deductible. How the scandal-plagued Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office will operate in a post-Laurie Smith era will be determined by the vote of the people in the Nov. 8 election. The $45,000 personal check, which Nielsen handed to the PSA's assistant treasurer, Schumb, represented more than half of the funds raised by the PSA before the election that year. 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.. The investigation found that weeks after the scheme was hatched, the conspirators settled on a $90,000 "donation" in exchange for 10 to 12 CCW licenses. We believe that working with the community, together we achieve great things and Im hoping to carry on that tradition and continue to provide the city of Cupertino with the best law enforcement services that we can.. Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. The activity took place in 2018 while Sheriff Laurie Smith -- who had the authority to grant the permits -- was in a tough battle race for reelection in both the primary and general elections. Multiple sources said the year-long investigation has centered on accusations of the sheriff's office favoring people who apply for a concealed weapons permit if they donated to Smith's reelection campaigns. 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. As of January, shes raised $8,400. Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . Law Enforcement. Len Ramirez and Kiet Do contributed to this story. Over the next 30 years he worked in numerous roles in the county jail and Sheriffs Office. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. West Valley Detectives. San Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. Before that, he was chief of police in Menlo Park for five years. Palo Alto police are out-of-control and Palo Alto has lots of payouts to victims. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriff's. You don't even need to live in the county, which is required by law. So he is also a liar. ALL RIGHT K J!!!!! ", #Breaking Four people including SantaClara Co Sheriffs Captain indicted in concealed carry pay to play scheme MORE @nbcbayarea. 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. The investigation found that weeks after the scheme was hatched, the conspirators settled on a $90,000 "donation" in exchange for 10 to 12 CCW licenses. San Jos Spotlight was unable to find record of Colton serving in law enforcement. A Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain, a gun parts manufacturer, and two local lawyers - one a prominent political backer - have been indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges. Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. San Jos Spotlight is a project of the San Jos News Bureau, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128. Jonsen said he also values transparency in law enforcement. Long, who created a blog to document the CCW process in Santa Clara County, said he was unsurprised by the indictments. 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. Hiscampaign filings do not reflect a total amount raised to date, but the candidate himself says hes raised about $50,000. The recently released autopsy report of Thomas Phan, a 40-year-old homeless man shot and killed by deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on Nov. 16, provided new details . document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_6" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); San Jos residents deserve a trusted source for unbiased, independent political news. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. You do the math. My resolutions are not something Im just sayingits something Ive been doing my entire career.. Jensen advised Nielsen to instruct AS Solution employees who were not residents of Santa Clara County to use local corporate addresses as their residence addresses in their applications. "I'm feeling very hopeful and optimistic, cautiously. Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California. She is a San Jose State University alumna and enjoys hiking and camping in her spare time. As of January, he has raised $72,398. about the scheme. I think its important to know the men and women who have this difficult job in difficult times are this much behind a candidate, Jensen told San Jos Spotlight. Contact Eli Wolfe at[emailprotected]or@EliWolfe4on Twitter. 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. Hirokawa said Jensen's quick rise to captain after Smith's re-election raised eyebrows in the office at the time. Besides sketching out the donation-for-permits plan, he surreptitiously recorded a conversation with Jensen using a DA-provided phone app, at a meeting just days before the corruption probe became public knowledge when search warrants were served at the sheriffs office. A San Jose native, he graduated from UCLA with a BA degree in history and from the University of Maryland with a MA degree in journalism. Neil Valenzuela takes over Sheriffs West, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Capt. NIchols owns a company called The Gun Co., which manufactures firearms parts. Allen was firm, fair and integrity was not an issue. I think its a trend that were seeing, property crimes increasing, now that were going back to work, Valenzuela said. This is my favorite place to work. "The DA's office is continuing to investigate more crimes and more individuals related to Sheriff Smith's issuance of CCW licenses. This is your newsroom. Shes concerned about declining morale in the office,notingstaffing levels are lowwhich means many employees work mandatory overtime, separating them from their families. Among the charges he faces, Jensen, along with AS Solution program manager Jack Stromgren, is accused of instructing AS Solution security employees to falsify their home addresses or employer to meet in-county residency requirements for the sheriffs CCW permits. BY EMILY MIBACH. 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. When I had asked him in one of those early conversations I got, like I dont remember the words it was, basically, Dont ask.'. 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. The morale will get better, then the whole department, Jensen told San Jos Spotlight. Character is hugeif you dont have the ability to make decisions for the right reasons, it wont work, Jensen said. A look at the best video roundup of snow falling across California, Has CA hit the all-time state snow record? My intent is to change not only whats happening at the top of the organization, but some of whos at the top of the organization, Allen told San Jos Spotlight. A Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain, a gun parts manufacturer, and two local lawyers - one a prominent political backer - have been indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and. Comments are moderated and approved by administrators. A former manager for a security company who implicated a Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain and others in an alleged bribery scheme to trade political donations supporting the sheriff in exchange for concealed-carry weapons has testified in the civil corruption trial . Three other AS Solution security employees at the time who got permits Leonard Lawrence, Rachael Paskvan and Jonathan Taunton were also described as listing home addresses or non-AS employers on their applications, and have not been charged. 38 reviews of Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department "Thankfully, my only experience with the Santa Clara County Sheriffs has been getting fingerprinted at this station in San Jose. 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. She also served in the offices operational standards and inspections unit and worked at both Elmwood and the main jail. 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. 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. We also levy on wages, bank accounts, vehicles or any asset of the judgment debtor. Harry Stern, Jensens attorney, reiterated that Jensen did not have the power to grant the concealed-gun permits. We know hes the best candidate to address these issues (in the office).. 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 California sheriff was suspended after she had inmates at a jail in Santa Clara county make her a BBQ for a break space used by corrections staff, a report said Tuesday. Robert was a member of the Bay Area News Group reporting team awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for East Bay Times coverage of the fatal "Ghost Ship" fire. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Ive worked at other places with the Sheriffs Office here and there but I just like the community here, and I like the fact theres more community outreach that we do on this side, Valenzuela said. He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s. Jonsen, who filed his papers to run in January, has received endorsements from former state Sen.Jim Bell, the Democratic Asian Pacific American Club and the Sunnyvale Democratic Club. Both Smith and Undersheriff Rick Sung invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination when they appeared before a criminal grand jury Aug. 3, and refused to answer any questions about the scandal, according to transcripts of the proceedings. As a detective he was assigned to the West Valley division, he was also one of our tactical flight observers up in our sheriffs helicopter, a field training officer and recruit training officer at the academy.. Now, Long said he wants to a see a system that treats all applicants equally. In addition to bribery, the indictment accuses Jensen of conspiring with AS Solution employees to put false information in their CCW license applications. While a captain, he was assigned to oversee various Custody Bureau Divisions, including the Main Jail, Elmwood, Jail Reforms, Support Services, and Administrative Services, as well as the Transportation and Internal Affairs Units. Capt. If theres problems with speeding or people running stop signs, (these events) give them more direct access to us and assist them in a better way.. Nagaye opposes the creation of a new jail, although she does support the creation of a new mental health facility to better meet the needs of mentally ill inmates. Closed on Santa Clara County holidays. | All donations are tax-deductible. California law requires candidates for county sheriff to have experience as certified law enforcement officers. 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. Santa Clara County Sheriff candidates Kevin Jensen and Bob Jonsen. 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. Schumb is a prominent political backer of the Sheriff and served as Assistant Treasurer for the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance, an independent expenditure committee that supported Smith's election bid. Local News | Kevin Jensen, a retired captain with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, is running to replace Laurie Smith. Smiths tenure as sheriff has been marred by scandals and political investigations. Urena told the council that he is prepared to take on the challenge. And were here to provide it. Jensen said hes concerned about the large number of mentally ill inmates in the jail system, butbelieves those with violent offenses need to be incarcerated. I am the only candidate who has addressed these issues for 30 years, Allen said. Sources have told this news organization that Nielsen a central figure in the scheme, who wrote the $45,000 check that touched off the investigation after Smith was re-elected in 2018 cooperated with investigators early on. How safe is your neighborhood? Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The side of a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office vehicle is pictured in this file photo. Stromgren recalled a conversation he had with Nielsen: I told him on a couple of occasions I didnt feel comfortable. In 2020, Luis was selected as the Acting Captain of the Special Operations Division and officially became fulltime Captain of this same division in September of 2021. Kevin Jensen said Tuesday that it was "humbling" that two unions want him to run against Sheriff Laurie . "If she's doing something that's unfair and unjust, she owes it to this community to step down," said Moore. "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. 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. SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith has been found guilty on all six corruption and misconduct counts in her civil corruption trial. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. From there, he was promoted to lieutenant and came back to Saratoga as the assistant commander of the West Valley Patrol Division. we have been without one, https://www.kevinjensen4sheriff.com/endorsements. Capt. In a lawsuit filed Nov. 13 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Amy Le says the Sheriff's Office effectively forced her to resign in retaliation for alerting higher-ups about a female lieutenant's sexual harassment complaint against a high-ranking officer. Daily Post Staff Writer. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Hes raised $72,398 through campaign donations and a loan. When asked if Jensen was acting on his own or working with Sheriff Smith, Rosen said that because the investigation was ongoing, it was not appropriate for him to comment on the possible roles of other individuals. The second half of the payment was forestalled by the DA investigation. 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. He supports the Board of Supervisors decision to build a new 500-person jail, and he favors adding more mental health resources for inmates. Sources close to the case tell the ABC7 News I-Team that the removal stems from an unpermitted arbor and barbecue grill Amy Le built at the jail with her own money, but using inmate labor. Suspect arrested in Palo Alto home burglary, Info stolen in Oakland ransomware attack set to be released, In fentanyl overdose case, police uncovered video evidence Martinez man molested multiple girls, feds say, Popular East Bay taco truck at risk of being uprooted from spot it has occupied for 16 years, Dear Abby: I love my wife but I think I better get divorced, Harriette Cole: She has gone too far with the remote work option, Bobcat seen using Highway 17 wildlife crossing hours after it opens, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Authorities: Man bombed PG&E transformers in South San Jose, Ask Amy: I didn't ask for what I wanted, and I'm sad they couldn't guess, William backed Harry and Meghan's eviction, prefers brother never 'set foot in England again', Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Miss Manners: I felt bad that they all skipped her baby shower -- and then I found out why, Brawl forces end of NorCal high school basketball playoff game, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Take a look at more stories and videos by the ABC7 News I-Team. Friday afternoon the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told ABC7 News that Jensen was officially placed on administrative leave. Last year, the Board of Supervisors voted no confidence in Smith and demanded state and federal investigations into her office after several high-profile cases involving mentally ill inmates who suffered injuries, including one that resulted in the county paying a $10 million settlement. In addition to conspiracy and bribery charges, Jensen is accused of falsifying public records. He touts his experience working as a correctional officer at Elmwood Correctional Facility, starting in the mid-1980s. A retired Santa Clara County sheriff's captain who ran for office in 2014 and lost, Kevin Jensen believes he has the momentum to take the seat. 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. I am a mom, wife, a veteran, LGBTQ+ ally and I understand the diversity of Santa Clara County, Nagaye said. My unique experience speaks for myself. In Santa Clara County, there's only room for one sheriff in town. 5:45 p.m. Lake County sheriff declares a local emergency due to snow. 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 defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges on Aug. 31. Per a plea agreement, his charges will be downgraded to misdemeanors and a maximum 18-month jail sentence in exchange for his cooperation with the district attorney. That is what we are doing here.. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. "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.". "My concern is not whether the sheriff grants many or few CCW licenses, but whether they are being granted or denied for the wrong reasons," Rosen said. The non-donor approval rate plummets even further for applicants who most would consider average citizens. Among the 40 non-donors to be granted concealed gun permits between 2014 and 2018 are three sitting judges, two current members of the San Jose Sharks hockey team, at least one employee of the sheriffs office, and five people who appear to be Santa Clara County reserve deputies. The following month, Nielsen and AS Solution, Inc. CEO Christian West met with Nichols, Hahal, and attorney Christopher Scumb at the Sainte Claire Club in San Jose, where Schumb described his fundraising work for Sheriff Smith and told Nielsen to seek out then Sheriff's Lieutenant James Jensen at the Best in the West SWAT competition. And its not because I can give them any promotions or instantly solve their problemsits because Ive earned their trust over a long period of time.. SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain and three others have been charged in connection with a gun permit bribery scheme, District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced Friday. 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. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September. "They should not be for sale. Public Safety Alliance ("PSA"), an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. Christian West, AS Solutions CEO at the time of the alleged scheme, was charged separately on two felony conspiracy counts. "My concern is not whether the sheriff grants many or few CCW licenses, but whether they are being granted or denied for the wrong reasons," said Rosen. Nielsen testified at a grand jury hearing July 21 that he and West met with sheriff officials and discussed offering donations and other payments with the hopes of getting bulk CCW applications approved. "If you made a campaign donation and if Captain Jensen knew you to be a VIP, then you got special treatment and you got a CCW license," Rosen said. Photo courtesy of Kevin Jensen.

Simple Sermon On Acts 16:16 34, Why Did Simon Hobbs Leave Cnbc, Immigrant Ships From Rotterdam, Large Gift Boxes With Lids, Articles S