Ricardo Rich Urena has been tapped to replace Capt. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The associations members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him.. 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. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. Jonsen, 59, spent the last four years working as police chief in Palo Alto. 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. We are not done.". Kevin Jensen, a retired captain with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, is running to replace Laurie Smith. Harry Stern, Jensens attorney, reiterated that Jensen did not have the power to grant the concealed-gun permits. "They should not be for sale. By Bay City News Published July 16, 2013. His career in law enforcement with the sheriffs office began in 2002, and since then he has worked a wide range of assignments, which include patrolling the West Valley cities, as well as performing law enforcement duties for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authoritys transit patrol division. Le apparently ran into trouble when her superiors did not like her project, and when they learned she didn't have a building permit. Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California. The ABC7 News I-Team asked Le to provide a comment but she declined. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. So he is also a liar. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. Rosen said the office has been cleared of any conflict by the state Office of the Attorney General, which will represent the DAs office in the motion hearing. Undersheriff ensnared in Santa Clara County concealed guns corruption probe, Sheriffs office hit with corruption probe over concealed weapons permits, | Criminal Justice and Public Safety Reporter. In response to a list of questions, Colton referred San Jos Spotlight to aquestionnaireshe filled out for a recent sheriff candidate forum. There are some very strong advocates for changes in the jail system, and Im among them, Jensen said. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The morale will get better, then the whole department, Jensen told San Jos Spotlight. Santa Clara County Sheriffs Captain James Jensen among 4 people indicted by grand jury yesterday according to DA Jeff Jensen @nbcbayarea. . We are not done, he said. "I think as an elected official, she needs to come forward and tell the 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. The Deputy Sheriffs Association of Santa Clara County is throwing its support behind retired sheriff Capt. My unique experience speaks for myself. Stromgren, who oversaw the security firms Facebook protection team, has not been charged, and testified to the grand jury that he was uneasy about the arrangement. Santa Clara County sheriff-elect Bob Jonsen will take office early after Board of Supervisors vote Jonsen, who was elected sheriff with 50.81% of the vote in November, will become the. 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 Sheriffs Capt. 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He also plans to improve the treatment for mentally ill inmatesand overall conditions in the jail system. 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. Like his opponents, Jensen said hes concerned about the lack of transparency in the office, which he blames on Smiths managerial style. He said its important to increase the offices transparency. Captain James Jensen, attorney Christopher Schumb, attorney Harpaul Nahal, and business owner Michael Nichols are accused of 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. Rosen did say that his office had reviewed phone and computer records and interviewed dozens of witnesses to determine whether there had been communication between Jensen and the Sheriff regarding the bribery scheme. "I think people should be treated fairly and equally under this system," Long said. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. "On August 7, 2020, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office publicly announced that Captain James Jensen has been formally charged with felony bribery, conspiracy and falsifying public documents by a Grand Jury.". 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. NIchols owns a company called The Gun Co., which manufactures firearms parts. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Jensen is also accused of signing off on seven permit recipients who did not complete mandatory firearms proficiency exams including a permit renewal for county Supervisor Mike Wasserman. Transcripts show the county supervisor blamed a chronically bad memory for his inability to recall whether he fulfilled the proficiency requirements. Allen, 51, has mostly worked in the jail system. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. With all of the county's 754 precincts reporting as of 5 p.m. Wednesday,. It is extremely painful to have his integrity questioned after spending years dedicated to serving the people of Santa Clara County. Your email address will not be published. "CCW licenses should not be given in exchange for campaign donations. Its going to be an easy election for voters to choosetheyre either going to choose somebody in the organization, or theyre going to choose for change, Jonsen said. We were all stuck at home for COVID, and we didnt have really any kind of property crime because everyone was home. In a statement, the sheriff's office said Jensen will be placed on administrative leave immediately. Santa Clara County Sheriff Sgt. Friday afternoon the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told ABC7 News that Jensen was officially placed on administrative leave. Contact Eli Wolfe at[emailprotected]or@EliWolfe4on Twitter. I feel the right person for the job is not the smoothest talking person that sounded good. At a Cupertino City Council meeting on Aug. 2, Ken Binder, former division commander, introduced Urena and described him as an experienced officer, ready for the new role. After Smith won that race, she promoted Le to captain. I am the only candidate who has addressed these issues for 30 years, Allen said. Jensen has picked up support from the main unions serving jail employees: the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association. 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. 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. Woman found fatally shot on I-580 off-ramp The state attorney general is investigating possible civil rights violations in the jail system, and Smith is fighting a political corruption accusation brought by a civil grand jury that claims she granted concealed firearm licenses to political supporters. she can't talk freely, then she needs to step down," Hirokawa said. Rosen said there were two paths when it came to the issuing of concealed gun permits by the sheriff's office: One for average citizens and one for campaign donors and VIPs. I will let people know this department is going to be run based on performance and rewards for performance.. The conflict is so real and so grave that fair treatment of Schumb is unlikely unless the district attorneys office is disqualified, Wall wrote in the motion. Whats next for the former Frys HQ in San Jose? 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. 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. 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.. Smiths office granted concealed gun permits to 22 of those 28 applicants, an approval rate of about 79%. Rosen reiterated Monday that his offices investigation is still active, but declined to comment on whether prosecutors are any closer to implicating the sheriff. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. 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. He wants to dismantle the system of nepotism that he claims took root in the Sheriffs Office during Smiths tenure. 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. San Jos Spotlight is the citys first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. Stromgren recalled a conversation he had with Nielsen: I told him on a couple of occasions I didnt feel comfortable. She was the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state. I think its a trend that were seeing, property crimes increasing, now that were going back to work, Valenzuela said. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Michael Nichols, right, is photographed outside of the San Jose Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Nichols was arraigned on conspiracy and bribery charges involving concealed weapon permits in Santa Clara County. 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. "It's been something of an open secret within the firearms community," Long said. Click hereif you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device. Rosen wanted to make it clear his office will hold any public official accountable for misconduct. 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. 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. BY EMILY MIBACH. Sheriff spokesman Sgt. The exact terms of the deal were hammered out later that month, according to the indictment, when Nielsen and West met with Jensen, Nahal, and Nichols at a San Jose Jamba Juice and agreed upon an exchange of 10-to-12 CCW licenses for a $90,000 donation to Smith's campaign. This is your newsroom. August 7, 2020 / 11:34 AM She has spent months fending off attacks from the Board of Supervisors, which voted no confidence in her leadership. 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. A veteran staff trainer, Allen wants to change how officers apply use of force, saying there need to be more alternatives for de-escalating situations and preventing harm to inmates. 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. West Valley Detectives. Between 2014 and 2018, 749 Santa Clara County residents applied for a new CCW permit, according to records provided by the sheriffs department.