Amid continued upheaval in Sheriff Christina Corpus’ office, the San Mateo County District Attorney has cleared the head of the deputy sheriff’s union of culpability for alleged timecard theft.
In the case of Deputy Carlos Tapia, the head of the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe issued a statement on Monday. On November 12, the sheriff’s office arrested Tapia on charges of grand theft and obtaining money under false pretenses.
“The law applies to everyone. At every level, we are dedicated to responsibility. “Although these measures are challenging, they are essential to maintaining the integrity and confidence of our office and our community,” Corpus stated at the time.
“I will continue to faithfully represent the interest of our union members and I will look forward to the district attorney’s review of this investigation,” Tapia stated after being apprehended. “And I’m confident I will be vindicated.”
The matter was sent to the District Attorney for review the next day by the sheriff’s office. The district attorney declared that Tapia will not face charges and that the case was closed after a month-long inquiry.
Wagstaffe stated on Monday, “We have concluded based on the follow-up investigation that no crime was committed by Deputy Carlos Tapia, that the complete investigation showed that there was no basis to believe any violation of law had occurred, and finally that Deputy Tapia should not have been arrested.”
The DA claimed that the sheriff’s office’s first inquiry was “extraordinarily limited” and “did not involve necessary follow-up investigation,” adding that an acting assistant sheriff assigned to the case handled all aspects of it, including reviewing Tapia’s timesheets.
“The investigation was ongoing, and more work needed to be done,” the Acting Assistant Sheriff stated in his report. However, according to the Assistant Sheriff, the senior leadership of the Sheriff’s Office ordered Deputy Tapia to be taken into custody on November 12, 2024, without doing that further investigation, according to the DA’s office.
A number of people were interviewed as part of the DA’s follow-up inquiry, including the assistant county controller, human resources management analysts, Tapia, the acting assistant sheriff, Tapia’s lieutenant and supervising sergeants, and others.
The DA’s office stated after the investigation that while there were some administrative errors in the coding of labor hours, “nothing” indicated criminal intent or illegal action. The sheriff’s office did not suffer any financial losses as a result of the coding mistakes.
“It is my conclusion that the evidence establishes without question that Deputy Carlos Tapia did not commit grand theft, theft by false pretenses or any sort of timecard fraud,” Wagstaffe continued.
The DA’s decision is a setback for Corpus, who has been under pressure to step down after being accused of many transgressions. An independent study, published the same day Tapia was arrested, accused Corpus of bullying, using racist and homophobic epithets, having a personal relationship with her head of staff, Victor Aenile, and having conflicts of interest.
Aenlle has been charged by the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Office of Sheriff’s Sergeants unions of fostering a hostile workplace and interfering with union-protected activities.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors authorized a proposed charter modification that would allow them to remove an elected sheriff for cause in the midst of the chaos. Supervisors do not currently have the authority to fire Corpus.
In a special election scheduled for March 2025, voters would choose the measure.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.