San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe announced this morning he is throwing out the timecard fraud case against deputy’s union president Carlos Tapia, who was arrested on the orders of Sheriff Christina Corpus.
Tapia was arrested and jailed on Nov. 12 on two charges alleging timecard fraud. Tapia posted $10,000 bail. He was put on paid leave.
“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,” Wagstaffe said in a statement.
Corpus has since said that a separate internal review will occur “which is standard protocol when the arrest involves an employee,” she said in a statement. “The internal review will be conducted by an independent third-party investigator to ensure it is a fair process.”
Tapia’s arrest happened hours before retired Judge LaDoris Cordell released a report highly critical of Sheriff Corpus and her then-chief of staff, Victor Aenlle. The report revealed instances of intimidation, abuse of power, federal firearms violations and racist and homophobic slurs by Corpus.
The arrest of Tapia served as a distraction from the Cordell report.
The Board of Supervisors has voted to call for Corpus’ resignation as sheriff. Since she has refused, the supervisors have scheduled a special election in March to ask voters to change the county charter to allow the supervisors to remove the sheriff.
Wagstaffe said the investigation was done by an “acting assistant sheriff,” whom he didn’t identify by name, who reviewed Tapia’s time cards. But the acting assistant sheriff said in his notes that more investigation needed to be done.
“Nevertheless, the assistant sheriff reported that the sheriff’s office executive leadership directed that Deputy Tapia be arrested on Nov. 12, 2024 without that additional investigation being conducted,” Wagstaffe said in his statement today.
After the arrest, the DA’s office completed the investigation. The investigation found that the county’s contract with the deputy’s union gives Tapia, as president, time for his union work.
“At the conclusion of the interview of the investigating acting assistant sheriff, District Attorney investigators discussed with the acting assistant sheriff the additional information learned during the course of the District Attorney’s Office follow-up investigation,” Wagstaffe said in his statement. “The acting assistant sheriff repeated several times that the follow-up investigation definitively established that there is no case against Deputy Tapia and he is not guilty of any criminal conduct.”
Wagstaffe said, “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 said there were clerical errors in the manner in which work hours were coded but nothing showing criminal intent or criminal conduct. Additionally there was no monetary loss to the Sheriff’s Office by the miscoding.
When Tapia was arrested, his union said it was an attempt by Corpus to retaliate against a critic.
“Sheriff Christina Corpus’ decision to arrest San Mateo (Deputy Sheriff Association) President Carlos Tapia has all the earmarks of whistleblower retaliation, particularly given that retired Judge LaDoris Cordell investigative report regarding the DSA’s complaints against civilian chief of staff Victor Aenlle is expected to be released in a matter of minutes,” the union said at the time of his arrest.
In September, Tapia’s union along with the sergeants union filed a complaint with the California Public Employment Relations Board, or PERB, over a change Corpus made regarding mandatory overtime deputies must put in. Last month, the union updated the PERB complaint to say that they were intimidated in doing their union work because of a threatening letter they received from Aenlle’s Los Angeles attorney.
Several things added up are creating a very dysfunctional hostile work environment under this corpus team. At what point does she realize that it’s not in the best interest of San Mateo County to continue under her regime? No one is supporting her her entire department from deputies Sergeant captains the board of supervisors Congress, senators mayors of all asked her to resign. This is not what a Sound sheriff in any part of the country should act like. There is obvious misconduct and potential for criminal charges based on this alone then you add in 40 people interviewing saying they’ve been retaliated or witnessed misconduct sworn or not sworn there is obviously a huge dysfunction going on.
The state Attorney General definitely needs to be involved to save the county from any further lawsuits. Yikes.
I’m sure Dan noyse will say there were errors with DA investigation and the sheriff and cute little doctor Vicky are victims of a smear campaign. It will be fun to see what propaganda little doctor Vicky and Dan noyse come up with.
But for everyone that has a brain. The assistant sheriff had no probable cause to make the arrest and he admitted he was told by the executives (corpus, cute little doctor Vicky and borat) to make an illegal arrest by the 12th. lol. Those types of investigations take months if the person doing the investigation is competent. Plus clearly defined SO policy and procedure is to send investigation to DA for a real investigation.
Can’t wait for the next press release from the sheriff. I’m a victim, I’m a Latina and the ole boys network is fabricating this. lol. This is sooo embarrassing. Dan noyse, cute little doctor Vicky and the sheriff need to go away. It’s time. No more propaganda. Just facts please.
This just might send Corpus, Aenlle, Perea, Fox, and anyone else involved with the arrest, to Federal prison! This is going to be SO fun to watch!!!!
My faith is renewed . DA Wagstaffe ,please continue to investigate .I am very pleased to see justice for Tapia . His arrest was the epitome of retaliation and corruption .
No Sheriff is above the law . Sheriff Corpus used her power to retaliate and deflect from her and Aenlle’s crimes .
They are despicable.
Now , let’s take a look at Victor’s alleged time card fraud for the hours he needed for his reserve qualifications.
That will be a tough one to hang him on legally, as he wan’t claiming any pay for the hours he claimed. Reserves are only paid for a very few, select roles, and he hasn’t worked in any those functions. However, he has failed to reach his POST-required minimum hours for two consecutive years, and the County has referred that issue to the POST Commission, which is almost certain to de-certify him. His law enforcement career is effectively over, and that will bruise his over-inflated ego plenty. No more badge for the Cuban leprechaun…
You gotta know when to hold them know when to fold them know when to walk away no one to run epic advice from Kenny Rogers listen to a Corpus
Of course, Tapia was not guilty. Anyone with brain could see that based on the timing alone. This was a clear tactic by the Sheriff to deflect from Cordell’s report. A false arrest of a deputy because he was calling out the corruption by Aenlle. Did they really think they were going to get away with it? How many more lawsuits are coming because this insane Sheriff??
Now let’s wait and see the biased joke DAN NOYES and how he puts a spin on it. Have some integrity Dan.
So will the Sheriff ignore this? Send out an irrelevant memo? Or conjure up something to put on the news next week to bury this false arrest and point out a missing irrelevant page in the HR report?
What is it going to take for Corpus to admit she is wayyyy over her in incompetent latino female head ? What plan does Corpus have going forward? It seems very clear the respected road forward is to resign instead of wasting tax payer money and time on these immature public victim responses.
Imagine requiring everyone to believe the Aenlle and Corpus way to make the department change? The solo attempts to defy policies and procedures are the wrong way.
Noone elected Aenlle stop giving him any power – he has no title anymore let alone any qualifications to place him in the sheriff office.
Corpus, Fox and little Vicky ALL need to be arrested for falsely arresting Deputy Tapia. This is a Color of Authority Felony!!! Enough of these clowns! “I am a woman of color” “I am your Sheriff” “The good ole boys are doing this to ME” NOPE…you are a FELON and a LIAR!!!
I see a Band of Brother quote.
Colonel Sink: “This business with Winter’s court martial has been an unpleasant distraction.”
It seems to me that, California Penal Code (PC) 182 is the criminal law section that makes it illegal to be involved in a criminal conspiracy. Criminal conspiracy is considered to be a serious felony that can have severe consequences. Criminal conspiracy essentially occurs when two or more people agree to commit a crime, or to use illegal methods, to achieve a legal or illegal goal. The criminal conspiracy agreement can be inferred from the actions of the people involved, even if it is not explicitly stated. To prove a criminal conspiracy case, the prosecutor must essentially show that:
• The defendant intentionally agreed with others to commit a crime
• The defendant took an overt act to further the agreement
• The overt act took place in California
Someone can also be charged with conspiracy for planning to frame someone for a crime, even if the crime was never committed. These acts are undoubtedly willful misconduct within the meaning of the Government Code sections that call for the removal of elected and appointed officials; the Sheriff and her executive team are elected and appointed officials.
Mr. Wagstaffe’s team of investigators still has much work to do in regard to this despicable action brought against Mr. Tapia. A Grand Jury could include these allegations in an accusation returned after confirmation of the statements and details in the Cordell Report, as well as this follow through investigation by the DA.
Dan Noyes appears to have proclaimed this conclusion by the DA as, “A major loss for San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus.” Perhaps the understatement of the year.
Who is going to believe a deputy sheriff in court after this happened? Any credibility Corpus had is gone.
Stop the madness
Dan Noyes must have the day off. Plot twisting with the Sheriff to deliver completely unbelievable biased news. Good job sinking your careers Corpus and Noyes
The walls are closing in. Yet, her delusional arrogance keeps her around.
Unlawful arrest lawsuit forthcoming.
Corpus violated Tapia’s civil rights. I wonder what excuse she’ll have this time to cover her butt.
Ka-Ching! I think the jail will be re-named after Carlos Tapia as part of his $20Million settlement with the Sheriff and SMCo.
I have never heard Steve Wagstaffe give such an amazingly definitive statement regarding a case submitted to his Office for prosecution. Normally, it would be there is insufficient proof to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt. Here, he said THERE WAS NO CRIME. “Sheriff” Corpus and her remaining Command Staff the Aenlle should be very concerned criminal charges aren’t filed against them!
Dan Noyse should ask how Doctor Victor Anelle filed his taxes while Chief of Staff for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The proof is in the pudding. Sheriff Corpus, her lover Doctor Victor Aenlle, Matt Fox and Dan Perea will likely be incited now and go for the dirt nap. Remember what happens in the darkness, always comes to light.