Here are the latest vehicle accident reports, as provided by the Willows area office of the California Highway Patrol.
Friday, Sept. 23:
7:40 p.m., J. Maldonado, 20, of Chico, was driving a 2018 Dodge south on Highway 45 near County Road 34. He was attempting to pass an uninvolved vehicle that was also traveling south on Highway 45. As the Dodge was passing this vehicle, the Dodge struck a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle that was traveling north on Highway 45, approaching County Road 34.
After the collision, the Dodge continued southbound and stopped on the right shoulder. The motorcycle continued northbound and came to rest on its side, blocking the northbound lane. The driver of the motorcycle, Loyd Hanski, 50, of Magalia, sustained major injuries.
Several volunteer firefighters responded for the injured rider and traffic control. Highway 45 was closed for about 45 minutes due to the accident. Hanski was transported by helicopter to Enloe Medical Center in Chico for treatment of his injuries.
Maldonado was not injured. Safety equipment for both drivers was in use at the time of the accident. According to CHP Officer J. Price, neither alcohol nor drugs are considered a factor in this collision.
9:55 p.m., Jose Jimenez Prieto, 37, of South San Francisco, was driving a 2001 Toyota north on Interstate 5, south of County Road 60, at 75 miles per hour. He drove into the median, crossed both southbound lanes of I-5, and onto the right shoulder of southbound I-5, where his Toyota struck a wire perimeter fence and rolled over. The vehicle came to rest on County Road J, north of County Road 62.
All three occupants of the Toyota were transported by Enloe Ambulance to Enloe Medical Center in Chico. According to CHP Officer Gilliam, the driver sustained moderate injuries; passenger Victoria Jimenez, 8, of South San Francisco, suffered major injuries; and the severity of the injuries of passenger Isabella Jimenez, 13, of South San Francisco, were not specified. All three occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident. Neither alcohol nor drugs are considered a factor in this incident.
Local attorney Stephana Femino is scheduled to be arraigned on a felony charge at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, at the Butte County Superior Courthouse in Oroville.
According to the Butte County Superior Court, the felony with which Femino is charged is “accessory after the fact,” which is when someone aids the perpetrator of a felony by helping him or her avoid or escape authorities. The court also states that Femino is charged with two misdemeanors: possession of a controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia.
As reported previously in The Glenn County Observer, Femino was arrested Friday, July 29, by investigators from the Butte County District Attorney’s Office and charged with harboring her fugitive boyfriend, who was also her client. She was taken into custody outside the Butte County Superior Court Friday morning after a warrant for her arrest was issued by a Butte County judge Thursday night.
According to a July 29 press release, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said his office began investigating Femino in June after it was discovered she was allegedly assisting her boyfriend, Adam Ashford, 49, in remaining a fugitive on several felony arrest warrants. Ramsey said Ashford is a convicted felon and was on probation in several serious cases, including possession of drugs while armed with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, and felony evading the police.
Ramsey said Ashford had violated the terms of his probation earlier this year and failed to appear in court on May 11. At that time, a Butte County judge issued “no bail” warrants for his arrest for the probation violations.
Ramsey said Femino represented Ashford on those cases and was in court when Ashford failed to show up and the warrants were issued. In the weeks that followed, law enforcement became aware of evidence that showed Femino was assisting Ashford in remaining free and avoiding the warrants.
Ramsey said that in late June his office began a formal investigation into Femino and Ashford, and learned that Femino was allegedly allowing Ashford to stay in her law office in Chico. It also became apparent that Femino and Ashford were engaged in a romantic relationship.
Law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies participated in the investigation, and on June 24 located and arrested Ashford, who was with Femino in a car near Butte College. Ashford was taken into custody and is currently held without bail in the Butte County Jail.
Ramsey said after Ashford’s arrest, investigators seized his cell phone and obtained a specialized search warrant designed to protect the privacy of Femino’s other clients, as there was a claim that Ashford had worked as an office manager for Femino for a time. A download of Ashford’s cell phone yielded hundreds of texts between Femino and Ashford while Ashford was out to warrant.
Ramsey said those texts confirmed Femino was providing Ashford with money and shelter to assist him in remaining a fugitive. He said that after his investigative team concluded that portion of their investigation, they determined there was sufficient evidence to arrest and charge Femino for harboring a fugitive, which is a felony in California.
Investigators then obtained an arrest warrant for Femino, which resulted in her being taken into custody on July 29 and being transported to the Butte County Jail. Ramsey said the information surrounding Femino’s arrest has been shared with the California State Bar.
The California State Bar Association currently lists Femino’s license to practice law as “active.” However, the bar association also now includes this consumer alert:
“This attorney has been charged with a felony. The felony matter is pending in Butte County Superior Court (Case No. 22CF04021). For more information, contact the court in the jurisdiction where the case is pending. The State Bar posts consumer alerts online when lawyers are charged in a criminal court with a felony or felonies. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of attorney misconduct is urged to file a complaint with the State Bar.
“DISCLAIMER: The filing of criminal charges does not constitute a finding of guilt or professional misconduct. Criminal defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Femino attended Orland High School. She began studying at California State University, Chico, in 1994, majoring in political science.
She began studying law at Cal Northern School of Law in 2001.
Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a courtroom clerk at the Butte County Superior Court. She was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2010, and opened her law offices in Chico.
She was a resident of Paradise and is a survivor of the Camp Fire of November, 2018.
Adam Ashford has a very long criminal history. In Butte County alone, between 1994 and 2022, the court’s website lists seven misdemeanor cases and 11 felony cases against him.
Ashford has also been arrested in Yuba, Colusa, Shasta, Glenn, and Placer Counties. Femino was relieved as Ashford’s attorney on July 27, two days before her arrest.
No doubt because they all know Femino and her work, it appears that about 10 judges have recused themselves from her case.
The case was filed by Butte County Deputy District Attorney Michael Tufaro, who was admitted to the California State Bar on Dec. 12, 2014.
Delbert Gerald Benjamin died on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. He was born at the old Cachel Dehe Reservation in Colusa to Haston and Elsie Benjamin on April 21, 1954.
He was a member of the Cachil Dehe Rancheria. He attended Princeton Elementary and High School.
He had two passions in his life: his family and his baseball. His first passion was his family, spending time with them at the coast and camping in the mountains.
He enjoyed riding his Razor with Bevann down to the river and spending time with their dogs, Cooper and Jake. He loved his dogs. He always said a man’s best friend is his dog.
His second passion was playing baseball and softball for the Braves, LP-Louisiana Pacific and GIR. Every weekend, he was playing softball somewhere in or out of the county.
Delbert was an avid catcher for these teams. He loved his softball and playing throughout the years with the same team members. He regarded his teammates as his other family, always talked about them, the good times they had together and shared much laughter and an abundance of memories.
He worked as maintenance supervisor for the Cachil Dehe Rancheria for many years and retired from that current position in 2019 due to medical issues.
He was very proud of his community and took great pride in the upkeep of his community.
He is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Bevann; daughters Alison (Francisco), Amanda (David), and Aimee (Manuel); 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his tribal members, many of whom refer to him as Uncle Del.
He was preceded in death by his father, Haston Benjamin; mother Elsie Benjamin; brother Cecil Benjamin; and sister Cheryl Ann Raglan.
Delbert’s pallbearer is to be Carl Lavern Slaughter. Graveside services are planned for 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Maxwell Cemetery.
The services are to be officiated by Germaine Burrows. Following the services, a potluck celebration of Delbert’s life will be held at the Cachel Dehe Community Center at 3730 Highway 45, Colusa.
Virginia Christine Northrop died on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. She was born Angelina Rose Barrett on Feb. 2, 1935, in Colusa to Georgiana and Manuel Barrett. Her name was changed at her baptism to Virginia.
She was raised in Princeton and retired to Willows in 2016. She graduated from Princeton High School in 1952 and then attended Chico State.
She married and raised her six children in Southern California. She moved back to the Sacramento area in the mid-1980s, where she married and spent 28 years with her second husband, Dennis Northrop.
Upon retirement from the California Building Industry Association in downtown Sacramento, she spent her days reading novels and enjoying her favorite shows, “Jeopardy,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “Family Feud,” while doing a little gardening as well.
Her children are Virginia Garavito of Glendora, Vere Butler of Chatsworth, Valerie Edmond of Woodland Hills, Vint Butler of Wake Forrest, NC, and Vido Butler of Laguna Beach. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Northrop, who died on May 11, 2022; sisters Gloria Feeney and Elizabeth (Betty) Wilkins; and son Vaun Butler.
Graveside services are planned for 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, at the Willows Cemetery.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, rumors are flying that former Undersheriff/Acting Sheriff Jason Dahl is the GCSO employee who was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation for wrongdoing.
Get this straight: There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that Dahl was in any way associated with the actual employee’s alleged – and I emphasize alleged – wrongdoing.
No evidence whatsoever.
Zero.
Nada.
Zilch.
As The Observer’s September 17 report made reasonably clear, the actual GCSO employee who was placed on administrative leave was Deputy John Sanzone – and it should be understood that he has only been accused of wrongdoing and should be afforded the presumption of innocence unless and until he is found guilty in a court of law.
Rather than rely on social media rumor mongers, The Observer called the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office to find out what is going on with former Acting Sheriff Dahl and current Acting Sheriff Travis Goodwin.
The GCSO confirmed that, indeed, Lt. Goodwin is now the permanent (meaning: until Justin Gibbs becomes sheriff in January) acting sheriff.
As for Dahl, he has left the GCSO not for any nefarious reason, but because he has taken a new job. At the end of September, he will take a position with the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training (POST), an entity of the state government.
Dahl is not happy with the Facebook postings in which he is mentioned. In one reply to someone’s post, he states:
“I am not exactly sure what you are insinuating. Travis Goodwin is currently Acting Sheriff due to me being off work until 9/30. The rumor spreading by Facebook trolls is ridiculous and toxic to this community. It is illegal for the Sheriff’s Office or any law enforcement agency to comment on a personnel matter until it is resolved. Period.”
The Glenn County Observer has shut down commenting for its September 17 Facebook post and has hidden all of its old posts, regardless of their content.
Here are the latest bookings from the Glenn County Jail. Remember: Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Thursday, Sept. 15:
1:01 a.m., Moises Moreno-Jimenez, 21, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor more than three years his younger (a felony). Bail was set at $20,000. He was taken into custody at 6386 County Road 20 by an Orland police officer.
Friday, Sept. 16:
7:47 a.m., Tyler James Fox, 28, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging misdemeanor violation of probation, and failure to appear on a felony charge. Total bail was set at $64,000. He was taken into custody at 6412 County Road 12, Orland, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
9:59 p.m., Lucky Bob Wyatt, 39, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. Total bail was set at $146,000. He was taken into custody at North Colusa and West Sycamore Streets, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Saturday, Sept. 17:
3:28 a.m., Efren Castro Preciado, 42, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of a controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (both misdemeanors), and a warrant alleging driving without a license (a misdemeanor). Bail on the fresh charges was set at zero, while bail on the warrant was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 3825 Highway 99, Orland, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
8:54 a.m., Justin Dale Burrows, 39, of Elk Creek, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on warrants alleging second-degree robbery, and violation of parole (both felonies). He was taken into custody at 3600 County Road 305, in the creek east of the Grindstone Rancheria, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
1:47 p.m., Lauren Nichole Ottone, 40, of Chico, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant (a felony). Bail was set at $25,000. She was taken into custody at Irvine Finch State Park by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
11:30 p.m., Cody Arlen Taresh, 29, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging burglary (a felony). Bail was set at $15,000. He was taken into custody at 6228 County Road 200 by an Orland police officer.
Sunday, Sept. 18:
1:37 a.m., Tanner Steven Scalvini, 24, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at Circle K, 210 West Wood Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Monday, Sept. 19:
6:10 p.m., Mark Ramus, 54, of Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of nitrous oxide (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody in the 1100 block of Hoff Way by an Orland police officer.
6:10 p.m., Kelly Ann Riehm, 32, of Anderson, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of nitrous oxide (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody in the 1100 block of Hoff Way by an Orland police officer.
8:40 p.m., Jorge Maria Perez, 29, of Hamilton City, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors), and a warrant alleging infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, and false imprisonment (both felonies). Total bail was set at $45,000. He was taken into custody on Highway 45 at County Road 23 by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Tuesday, Sept. 20:
7:12 a.m., Javier Ruben Martinez, 18, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant (a felony), child endangerment (a misdemeanor), and felony vandalism, and a warrant alleging threatening to commit a crime (a felony), and felony vandalism. Total bail was set at $200,000. He was taken into custody at 330 East Ash Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy. At 8:26 a.m. at the Glenn County Jail, Martinez was also charged with two counts of alleged felony violation of probation by a Glenn County probation officer. His bail for this was set at $320,000, making his overall total bail $520,000.
3:24 p.m., at the Glenn County Jail, Clarence Bartholemeu Hickman, 58, of Chico, was found to have a Butte County Superior Court warrant alleging failure for a transient to register as a sex offender after being released from custody, and failure to appear after giving a written promise (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $2,000. Hickman was booked into the Glenn County Jail on Friday, Sept. 2.
3:39 p.m., Luis Fernando Vargas-Flores, 39, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging misdemeanor violation of probation. Bail was set at $8,000. He was taken into custody at 1026 Juniper Drive, Willows, by a Glenn County probation officer. The following afternoon, he was remanded by the court to the jail and held without bail for misdemeanor violation of probation.
10:22 p.m., Jeffrey Alan Davis, 26, of Red Bluff, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging public intoxication (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody at 226 East Shasta Street by an Orland police officer.
Wednesday, Sept. 21:
8:18 a.m., Andy Kao Saechao, 27, of Oroville, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor), possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (a misdemeanor), and felony violation of probation. Bail was set at $35,000. He was taken into custody at 400 Elm Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
1:52 p.m., Derek Gerald Clark, 32, of Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging shoplifting (a misdemeanor), bringing a controlled substance into a jail (a felony), and giving false identification to a peace officer (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at Walgreens Pharmacy, 828 Newville Road, by an Orland police officer.
In the last two weeks, no less than four power poles have been destroyed in northern Glenn County.
The latest pole was taken out in a vehicle accident at about 1:43 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, in the area of County Roads M and 21.
Fortunato Chavez of Orland was driving a 2000 Nissan Frontier north on Road M, north of Road 24, at about 40 miles per hour, when he fell asleep.
The vehicle drifted across the road to the left and hit a power pole on the west side of Road M, shearing it off.
The Frontier then drifted back to the right, caught fire, and came to a stop roughly 100 yards north of the power pole, on the east shoulder of Road M.
It was reported that the vehicle was fully involved in flames. Chavez, who was the sole occupant of the Frontier, was able to get out of the vehicle.
Orland firefighters, California Highway Patrol officers, Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies, and Orland police officers quickly arrived at the scene and the fire was soon extinguished.
The drooping power lines were still live. PG&E was contacted and arrived at about 1:55 p.m.
About 2,200 residences and businesses were without power. At the scene of the accident, Orland Police Chief Vlach said that Fairview School had no power, and a little later your Glenn County Observer reporter discovered that the Orland Post Office was dark and closed for business, as was the library across the street.
Chavez was wearing his seatbelts and was not injured. The airbags in the Frontier also deployed.
Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved.
The vehicle sustained major front end and fire damage. It was towed from the scene by Bambauer Towing.
After a COVID-caused absence in 2020 and 2021, the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Oktoberfest in Artois is returning.
The event is planned to take place from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2.
The menu includes brots (from Schwarz Sausage Co. of San Francisco), and homemade sauerkraut, German potato salad, German chocolate cake, and sweet/hot mustard.
Sierra Nevada beer (purchased separately), and water, soda, and wine will also be available.
Meals can be eaten at tables while listening to live music inside the parish hall, or at tables set up outside in the community park. Furthermore, all meals will be placed in to-go containers.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Tickets are $30 each. Please call Myrna Lohse (530-934-5711), Harold von Bargen (530-934-3613), or Laura Blevins (530-855-0819).
The church and parish hall are located at Sixth and Main Streets in Artois.
With her daughter and granddaughter by her side, Eva Mclain died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at the age of 101 (just one week shy of turning 102!). She was born in Montague to Frank and Yvonne Giubergia on Sept. 17, 1920.
She lived in Weed and Fallon, Nev., before settling in Susanville with her family. She was the oldest of five children.
In 1941, she met the love of her life, Norm Mclain, in Susanville, and they married on Nov. 1, 1941. In 1943, they welcomed their daughter Norma Jean McLain (Punkie) while living in Susanville.
Norm worked for Bank of America and he was promoted to assistant manager in Weaverville before becoming the manager of Bank of America in Willows in 1955.
Norm and Eva were married 58 years and they loved to travel, visiting France, Italy, Mexico, and Hawaii. Eva’s favorite island was Maui and she had been there 14 times!
Eva spent many years helping to take care of her granddaughter, Kristine, and then her great-grandsons. Many readers might remember seeing her riding her bike or strolling her great-grandkids around the park.
She was very proud of her family. She was active her whole life and was always positive and always had a smile.
She is survived by her daughter, Norma Jean (Bob) Benamati; granddaughter Kristine Schouten; great-grandsons, Kevin (Erin) Schuller, Kristopher (Emily) Schuller, Jesse (Brittany) Schuller, and Ashton Awad; great-great-grandkids Jackson, Bennet, Zane, Gwendolyn, Elleah, and Owen Schuller; sister Maryvonne (Bob) Briscoe; nephews Frank (Terri) Stevenson, and Dennis (Judy) Giubergia; niece Sondra Lehman; and their children and grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers John Giubergia and Harry Giubergia; sister May (Ken) Stevenson; and her husband Norman McLain.
Eva’s family would like to thank Juanita and Connie for the love and care they gave her over the years. She could not have made it without their dedication and her family truly appreciated everything they did for her.
Services are planned for 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, at the Willows Catholic Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Willows Fire Department or Saint Monica’s YLI.
Arrangements are under the direction of F.D. Sweet and Son Funeral Home, Willows.
John Sanzone in December of 2021, when he became a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
On Monday, Sept. 12, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release stating that one of its employees had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
The short release says in its entirety: “The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office became aware of an allegation of criminal misconduct involving one of our employees. The involved employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal and administrative investigation. The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office is not able to make any public comments regarding the identity of the employee involved or the nature of the allegations of misconduct.
“The men and women of the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office are dedicated to protecting the citizens and communities, which we serve. We remain steadfast in our commitment to public service and do not condone any nature of misconduct. The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office will release any information allowable by law once the investigations are complete.
Obviously, the release is so vague that it does not give so much as a hint as to who the GCSO employee is, what his or her position in the sheriff’s office is (patrol deputy, correctional officer, administrative worker, etc.), what the alleged criminal misconduct was, or when it allegedly occurred.
Given that this is an active investigation, both criminally and administratively, and that in California, employees have certain legal protections regarding the release of their employment histories and other information, this is to be expected.
Nevertheless, this did not prevent rumors from flying on social media as to the identity of the employee. One person, a GCSO deputy, was mentioned repeatedly, with at least one former Glenn County law enforcement officer expressing surprise that this person was hired in the first place.
That remark was made just a day after the GCSO press release was issued. Then, on Friday, Sept. 16, Alan Marsden of Action News Now (the local news association consisting of KHSL Channel 12, KNVN Channel 24, and the CW’s Chico-Redding Channel 10) reported on a lawsuit filed against the City of Oroville by Oroville Police Sergeant Michael Sears.
The complaint filed on behalf of Sears by Chico attorney Larry L. Baumbach alleges a number of acts of wrongdoing committed by a former Oroville police officer. It also alleges that this same officer, now a GCSO deputy, was recently placed on leave for criminal wrongdoing in Glenn County.
In one case, the complaint alleges that on or before July 5, 2021, former Oroville Police Sergeant John Sanzone stole $1,300 from a person suffering from mental illness. A few paragraphs later in the complaint (paragraph 42), it alleges:
“In September of 2022, while employed at the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, John Sanzone was placed on administrative leave after yet another citizen reported Sanzone had stolen money from him during an arrest, but this time it occurred in Glenn County.”
Sanzone joined the GCSO in December of 2021. According to Sears’ complaint, prior to this time, while Sanzone was an Oroville police officer:
“In [an] October 2018 grievance, OFFICER SEARS reported that Officer John Sanzone left critical rape evidence in an unsecured area of the PD (next to Sgt. Deal’s desk) where convicted felons had access (the Department used felons to clean the facilities at that time). Additionally, Officer Sanzone wrote in his report that he had ‘booked’ the evidence the same day he collected it, which was false” (paragraph 9, point 2).
“In that same October 2018 grievance, OFFICER SEARS reported John Sanzone leaving meth, a broken meth pipe, and other evidence in his patrol vehicle (violation of policy). OFFICER SEARS took photos and let administration know the day that this was discovered” (paragraph 9, point 3).
John Sanzone back when he was still with the Oroville Police Department.
“On February 12, 2020, [now-SERGEANT] SEARS filed a formal complaint against John Sanzone for making false allegations, disparaging remarks, and untrue rumors about SEARS. Sanzone spread these false rumors to several members of the Department, which negatively affected SEARS’ professional and personal reputation…” (paragraph 17).
“On February 29, 2020, SERGEANT SEARS sent an email to Lt. Zarate documenting his concerns about John Sanzone stealing City funds, by way of fraudulent timecard certifications. Specifically, that on February 4, 2020 Sanzone left work early but lied on his timecard about how long he worked (lied by reporting he worked 6 hours more than he did). Multiple officers corroborated this and also found multiple additional days where John Sanzone put hours on his timecard that he did not work. Specifically, Officer Breck Wright confirmed this with the Finance Dept., and brought this to the administration’s attention” (paragraph 18).
“Additionally, SERGEANT SEARS’ February 29, 2020 email also detailed Sanzone requesting subordinate officers still in training (and under Sanzone’s supervision) to lie for him – and tell his girlfriend that he was staying the night at an officer’s house, when Sanzone was not in fact at the officer’s house. SEARS’ concern about this was that Sanzone was enlisting young subordinate officers to lie” (paragraph 19).
“On February 21, 2021, SEARS emailed Sgt. Sanzone, Lt. Zarate, and Chief Deal because he had learned, yet again, that John Sanzone was spreading false rumors and allegations against SEARS to other members of the Department that were impairing SEARS’ ability to do his job. Just three days after sending this email, on February 24, 2021, SEARS received a Notice of Internal Affairs (IA) investigation against him for purportedly creating a ‘hostile work environment’ for Sgt. John Sanzone as a result of SEARS reporting Sanzone’s unethical and criminal behavior” (paragraph 33).
“… during the period of December 2020 to March of 2021, Officer Breck Wright found that Sanzone had failed to respond to approximately 80 calls, including domestic violence, suicidal subjects, missing juveniles, vandalism, trespassing, animal abuse, prostitution, and drug overdoses. One specific incident occurred on March 6, 2021, when citizens called 911 reporting that an elderly handicapped woman, who was unable to walk or access food, needed emergency law enforcement assistance. Sgt. John Sanzone failed to respond to that call. Instead, SERGEANT SEARS saw that Sanzone had not responded to the call during his shift, so SERGEANT SEARS responded when he got on duty, and found the woman sitting in her own urine and fecal matter, unable to move or access help. The treating doctor said the woman was lucky to be brought in when she was, because she was on the verge of requiring a leg amputation, or worse due to her condition…” (paragraph 37).
As already mentioned above, “On July 5, 2021, SERGEANT SEARS was on duty when a citizen, who suffered with mental illness, came in to the police department to report that Sergeant Sanzone had stolen $1300 from the citizen during a recent arrest. The citizen said he had come in to report this theft multiple times, and he was told by one sergeant that the citizen could not make that type of complaint and was told to leave. SERGEANT SEARS looked up the police log history and saw that the ‘sergeant’ who told the citizen he could not make such a complaint was John Sanzone himself. On July 8, 2021 and again on July 9, 2021, the citizen came in to again report the theft of his money by John Sanzone…” (paragraph 39).
It must be emphasized that these allegations against Sanzone are just that: allegations. Sanzone has not been convicted of anything.
In fact, so far as The Observer is aware, he hasn’t even been charged with any wrongdoing, not in Butte County and not in Glenn County. Here in Glenn County, he is apparently being investigated, but that is all.
Remember: Everyone accused of criminal wrongdoing is considered innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
The Glenn County Observer 