Post by SoulTrainOz on Jul 17, 2006 22:26:30 GMT -5
By CHRIS COLLINS, Modesto Bee
MERCED - After a tumultuous week that included a dramatic car crash, a concussion, calls from the Board of Supervisors to step down and continuing criminal investigations by the state attorney general's office, District Attorney Gordon Spencer said Friday he will resign immediately.
"After my recent automobile accident, I have had discussions with my family, friends, physician and members of the district attorney's office," Spencer wrote in a letter to the Merced County administration and county supervisors. "After those discussions, I have determined that I will retire earlier than I had previously announced."
The letter, given to the Sun-Star by a person who did not want to be identified, continued: "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our local law enforcement agencies. Especially, I would like to express my thanks and respect to the peace officers for their dedication to a job that, each day, places them in harm's way for my protection and the protection of all of our citizens."
Spencer sent a similar letter to local media Friday afternoon. Neither letter made mention of the attorney general's investigations of Spencer that could lead to embezzlement and coercion charges.
The announcement comes two days after Spencer was released from Mercy Medical Center Merced, where he was recovering from a concussion he suffered Monday after his truck flew off South East Bear Creek Drive, flipped over and fell into the creek.
Spencer, 57, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Both chief deputy district attorneys said their boss told them Thursday night that he would resign.
"I told him I thought it was best for the county and for him that he retire early," Chief Deputy David Moranda said. "He has many achievements to be proud of, and I wish him the best of luck. But it's time to move on in the office."
The resignation marks the conclusion of a dramatic and sometimes illustrious legal career that propelled Spencer into the national spotlight in the late 1990s when he took on big businesses and won huge settlements.
He was elected president of the California District Attorneys Association in 2001.
"It's a sad ending for a very good public service career," Supervisor Deidre Kelsey said Friday.
Despite Spencer's accomplishments, all five county supervisors said they will accept his resignation.
"I'm glad he stepped up to the plate on this one," Supervisor Mike Nelson said.
There had been signs that Spencer might resign. He agreed in June to step down from the high-profile death penalty case of Cuitlahuac Tahua "Tao" Rivera, who is accused of killing a Merced police officer during an April 2004 traffic stop.
Investigations expected to continue
A spokesman for the attorney general's office said his agency will continue to investigate Spencer.
The attorney general started looking into the district attorney after the Sun-Star reported two months ago that Spencer collected about $57,000 in car and phone allowances over a seven-year period while using government equipment.
The office also is looking at a piece of land that Spencer, Sheriff Mark Pazin and other investors bought from a man who was in jail and facing prosecution by the district attorney's office.
Pazin said he is not part of the probe. The attorney general's office won't comment on its investigation of the land deal.
The attorney general also found in December that Spencer impersonated an investigator in the district attorney's office in September to help settle a dispute that Spencer's son had with a cabinet company. No charges were brought, though Spencer was asked to take an ethics course.
The state Office of Emergency Services concluded last month that Spencer violated the terms of a grant it awarded the county by driving a sport utility vehicle he was not supposed to use.
Spencer also is being investigated by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for serving alcohol to a minor at a Merced Golf and Country Club party in December.
Ran unopposed four times
The reports and ongoing investigations led Supervisor Jerry O'Banion to call for Spencer's resignation Tuesday. O'Banion said the district attorney's office has been in "turmoil" the past seven or eight months.
Supervisor John Pedrozo said Friday that the Spencer woes are a "wake-up call" for the county.
"We've all learned a valuable lesson right here," Pedrozo said.
Spencer's attorney, Terry Allen, wouldn't comment on Spencer's resignation. He said he thinks all the facts of the attorney general's investigations have not come to light.
Spencer announced in December that he would retire in a year after more than 30 years with the district attorney's office. He was appointed district attorney in 1990 and ran unopposed four times.
Some supervisors indicated Friday that they will appoint Chief Deputy District Attorney Larry Morse II to fill Spencer's role. Morse was elected district attorney in June and is scheduled to take office in January.
Morse said in a statement Friday that he is in the middle of a murder trial and wants Assistant District Attorney Joe Tresidder to take over as district attorney until he finishes his trial. Tresidder said he will take the job for now.
Spencer gained nationwide fame when he took on powerful computer manufacturing companies in 1996 and won $2.1 million in damages, including $500,000 for Merced County.
The case revealed that computer monitor manufacturers misrepresented the size of computer screens. The settlement forced manufacturers to list the actual viewable screen size.
Spencer also went after the deep-pocketed national drugstore chain Rite Aid in 1999 for selling expired infant formula, condoms and other health care products. The case forced Rite Aid to stop selling expired products and to pay penalties totaling $6.8 million.
Source : Modesto Bee
www.modbee.com/local/story/12456183p-13175651c.html
MERCED - After a tumultuous week that included a dramatic car crash, a concussion, calls from the Board of Supervisors to step down and continuing criminal investigations by the state attorney general's office, District Attorney Gordon Spencer said Friday he will resign immediately.
"After my recent automobile accident, I have had discussions with my family, friends, physician and members of the district attorney's office," Spencer wrote in a letter to the Merced County administration and county supervisors. "After those discussions, I have determined that I will retire earlier than I had previously announced."
The letter, given to the Sun-Star by a person who did not want to be identified, continued: "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our local law enforcement agencies. Especially, I would like to express my thanks and respect to the peace officers for their dedication to a job that, each day, places them in harm's way for my protection and the protection of all of our citizens."
Spencer sent a similar letter to local media Friday afternoon. Neither letter made mention of the attorney general's investigations of Spencer that could lead to embezzlement and coercion charges.
The announcement comes two days after Spencer was released from Mercy Medical Center Merced, where he was recovering from a concussion he suffered Monday after his truck flew off South East Bear Creek Drive, flipped over and fell into the creek.
Spencer, 57, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Both chief deputy district attorneys said their boss told them Thursday night that he would resign.
"I told him I thought it was best for the county and for him that he retire early," Chief Deputy David Moranda said. "He has many achievements to be proud of, and I wish him the best of luck. But it's time to move on in the office."
The resignation marks the conclusion of a dramatic and sometimes illustrious legal career that propelled Spencer into the national spotlight in the late 1990s when he took on big businesses and won huge settlements.
He was elected president of the California District Attorneys Association in 2001.
"It's a sad ending for a very good public service career," Supervisor Deidre Kelsey said Friday.
Despite Spencer's accomplishments, all five county supervisors said they will accept his resignation.
"I'm glad he stepped up to the plate on this one," Supervisor Mike Nelson said.
There had been signs that Spencer might resign. He agreed in June to step down from the high-profile death penalty case of Cuitlahuac Tahua "Tao" Rivera, who is accused of killing a Merced police officer during an April 2004 traffic stop.
Investigations expected to continue
A spokesman for the attorney general's office said his agency will continue to investigate Spencer.
The attorney general started looking into the district attorney after the Sun-Star reported two months ago that Spencer collected about $57,000 in car and phone allowances over a seven-year period while using government equipment.
The office also is looking at a piece of land that Spencer, Sheriff Mark Pazin and other investors bought from a man who was in jail and facing prosecution by the district attorney's office.
Pazin said he is not part of the probe. The attorney general's office won't comment on its investigation of the land deal.
The attorney general also found in December that Spencer impersonated an investigator in the district attorney's office in September to help settle a dispute that Spencer's son had with a cabinet company. No charges were brought, though Spencer was asked to take an ethics course.
The state Office of Emergency Services concluded last month that Spencer violated the terms of a grant it awarded the county by driving a sport utility vehicle he was not supposed to use.
Spencer also is being investigated by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for serving alcohol to a minor at a Merced Golf and Country Club party in December.
Ran unopposed four times
The reports and ongoing investigations led Supervisor Jerry O'Banion to call for Spencer's resignation Tuesday. O'Banion said the district attorney's office has been in "turmoil" the past seven or eight months.
Supervisor John Pedrozo said Friday that the Spencer woes are a "wake-up call" for the county.
"We've all learned a valuable lesson right here," Pedrozo said.
Spencer's attorney, Terry Allen, wouldn't comment on Spencer's resignation. He said he thinks all the facts of the attorney general's investigations have not come to light.
Spencer announced in December that he would retire in a year after more than 30 years with the district attorney's office. He was appointed district attorney in 1990 and ran unopposed four times.
Some supervisors indicated Friday that they will appoint Chief Deputy District Attorney Larry Morse II to fill Spencer's role. Morse was elected district attorney in June and is scheduled to take office in January.
Morse said in a statement Friday that he is in the middle of a murder trial and wants Assistant District Attorney Joe Tresidder to take over as district attorney until he finishes his trial. Tresidder said he will take the job for now.
Spencer gained nationwide fame when he took on powerful computer manufacturing companies in 1996 and won $2.1 million in damages, including $500,000 for Merced County.
The case revealed that computer monitor manufacturers misrepresented the size of computer screens. The settlement forced manufacturers to list the actual viewable screen size.
Spencer also went after the deep-pocketed national drugstore chain Rite Aid in 1999 for selling expired infant formula, condoms and other health care products. The case forced Rite Aid to stop selling expired products and to pay penalties totaling $6.8 million.
Source : Modesto Bee
www.modbee.com/local/story/12456183p-13175651c.html