After Deadline: Grand jury says Ridenour doesn't receive special treatment at the Sheriff's Department
Mayor Jim Ridenour doesn't get special treatment in his part-time job as a reserve sheriff's deputy, the county Civil Grand Jury has concluded.
The grand jury looked into allegations that Ridenour was getting paid for work he didn't do at the Sheriff's Department.
"There was no documented evidence that the Sheriff's Office had mismanaged this individual's time and pay," the grand jury wrote.
"I had no doubt about it. We had done it right," Ridenour said today.
Ridenour has worked at the Sheriff's Department since 1992. His work there became an issue a year ago when former Mayor Carmen Sabatino looked at Ridenour's mayoral calendar and suggested that Ridenour was attending events while he was supposed to be at the Sheriff's Department.
Sabatino is unlikely to drop his charges. Ridenour is giving Sabatino a copy of his mayoral calendar every week.
Sabatino at last week's City Council meeting suggested that Ridenour was getting extra hours at the Sheriff's Department as a political favor.
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Of Course there's "no documented evidence" thats just silly
And it puts into perspective the comment,
"I had no doubt about it. We had done it right" said Ridenour.
Doing it right? No documented evidence!
He said it all.
Ya can't prove nutten.
sounds like a gangster doesn't it?
No evidence
It means there's no evidence to substantiate the claim.
As for Ridenour's quote, that's just the cadence in which he speaks.
No evidence....
No evidence is correct. However, I am not sure it will matter to some. People will still say he received special treatment, even though the evidence states he did not.
Thanks for posting this AD.
MTBER
I can't blame the critics. They have valid reasons to look at the calendars and time cards, and to hold the mayor to a higher level of scrutiny as a public official.
That said, it looks a bit like a dead end at this point. Of course, that's what I thought a year ago and I was wrong then.
I totally agree AD...
On its face, it does look suspicious and the Mayor definitely deserves higher scrutiny, especially in this case where it did look like he was "double dipping" per se with taxpayer dollars. A review of his calendar and time cards was completely justified. I never did believe he was actually "double dipping," but understood how some could.
The Grand Jury findings may be a dead end point on this issue, but I doubt it. He'll receive scrutiny on this issue until he is out office is my guess.
A_D will the BEE post
The evidence which the Grand Jury looked at.........since this is the final end of their investigation ? Just wondering.
Evidence
The grand jury says it reviewed Ridenour's pay cards and his job description. It says it also interviewed employees in the Sheriff's Department.
That appears to be it.
looking forward to
Those written statements, and job description, along with the copies of time cards and calanders. That they have to back up their decision I won't just take their word for it, I need the proof. It makes sense for them to provide such publically. And the names of the grand jury members so there is no conflict of interests.
Knock yourself out
Here are the grand jury members. You can obtain job descriptions from the county and time cards from Sabatino's web sites.
Bill L. Axtell
Riverbank
Richard T. Baroni
Modesto
Mike Casares
Modesto
Charles M. DeLaire
Modesto
Michael Erat
Modesto
Eloise F. Fernandez
Modesto
Nancy L. Goodman*
Modesto
Jerry J. Jackman
Modesto
Warren A. Kennedy
Modesto
Elsie T. Lujan
Patterson
Bobby G. Phillips
Turlock
Magadalena Robles
Ceres
Sharon D. Severe
Modesto
Anthony W. Smith
Oakdale
Diane A. Sol
Modesto - Foreperson
Charles D. Stark
Modesto
Paul R. Troop
Oakdale
Nancy P. Webber
Modesto
Thanks A_D
We also need those written statements from the county employees or at least what the questions were.
What evidence did they expect to find?
The Sheriff said point blank that Ridenour had made calls for city business while he was being paid to work for the Sheriff.
The Sheriff said "after the fact" that it was ok with him if Ridenour still was paid from the county while he was on the phone conducting city business.
That being said there is still no "documented evidence" Ridenour received special treatment? Give me a break!
A_D...
In your article on www.modbee.com you mentioned Carmens cancelled radio show but failed to mention his podcast show, an oversite?
Hey...
What about those time cards. I can imagine what is going to happen on the Sabatino show tomorrow. I'll be there.
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Denial ain't just a river in Egypt