BY AMELIA BISCARDI
Daily Post Staff Writer
Former San Mateo County Assistant Sheriff Matthew Fox quit because of the “dysfunction and disarray” in the sheriff’s office that boiled over when the president of the deputies union was arrested for alleged timecard fraud, his attorney said.
Fox’s attorney, Michael Rains, said his client feels misled by Sheriff Christina Corpus and her direction to investigate deputy union president Carlos Tapia for timecard fraud.
Tapia was arrested on Nov. 12 by the sheriff’s office on allegations of timecard fraud, and Fox quit two days later.
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe announced Monday that he won’t be charging Tapia, saying the investigation shows there were “clerical errors” with Tapia’s timecard, but nothing criminal. Corpus and her former chief of staff Victor Aenlle had previously told Tapia about the problems with his timecards before asking Fox to investigate Tapia, according to Rains.
“He’s angry to this day about the way this thing unfolded,” Rains said. “He’s very sorry to have participated in an investigation that resulted in Carlos’ arrest, because he didn’t deserve to be arrested.”
The sheriff’s office did not respond to the Post’s request for comment.
Fox was promoted by Corpus on Sept. 24 after she fired his predecesor, Ryan Monaghan. Rains said Fox was directed to investigate Tapia’s time card records in early October.
As head of the union, Tapia is allowed to work on union business while he’s on the clock.
While investigating, Rains said Fox found that Tapia was using the wrong code on his timecard to punch in.
“He reasoned that there had to be a reason for the sudden changes in coding and maybe it was that Carlos was aware that he had been using the wrong codes,” Rains said.
When Fox finished his report, he recommended Corpus hand the case over to the DA to continue the investigation, per typical protocol.
Throughout Fox’s investigation, Corpus did not show animosity or hatred towards Tapia, Rains said.
The investigation began after the deputy’s union filed a labor complaint with a state agency about Aenlle and Corpus. That gave the appearance that Tapia’s arrest was in retaliation for filing that complaint.
Tapia was arrested on Nov. 12, the same day the Board of Supervisors released the report into the sheriff’s office by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell which had allegations of retaliation and Corpus having a “personal relationship” with Aenlle.
Two days after the report came out, Fox resigned.
“He was at the point where he had seen enough dysfunction and disarray at the highest levels that he didn’t want to be a part of it anymore,” Rains said.
Fox learned that he had been misled by his former employer when interviewed by the DA’s office on Dec. 7.
Wagstaffe said his team took Fox’s investigation further, speaking with multiple supervisors, creating a 150-page report, speaking with the county HR and the sheriff’s fiscal department.
Wagstaffe said that his office did not find anything criminal, just human errors.
In similar cases, Wagstaffe said fraud is usually apparent and in this case, that was not true and that the county did not lose any money over the errors.
Corpus hired Monaghan then turned on him. Corpus hired and promoted fox and turned on him. Corpus hired Phillips and presented him with an illegal situation to choose from . What good old boy network is this Sheriff referring to? She created the corruption !
Stop hiding behind lies, deceit and corruption!
It’s so funny the propaganda that is being put out. Please don’t believe for a second that foxy is innocent. He is truly a believer in her vision. The heat just got too hot for foxy. I guess foxy is a cold weather type of guy. Hope he freezes. As for the untrustworthy sheriff, cute little doctor Vicky esquire and Dan brown noyse, watch how they are going to run a campaign like no other. Propaganda, false statements and shiny objects to make the public think she and her crew are not the criminals that they are. Dan brown noyse should investigate when foxy’s investigation started, when it ended and read foxys starement. Since it’s all described above and done by real journalists maybe Dan brown noyse can interview the daily post to get real facts? No, that’s seems like a bad idea. He should just talk about the overwhelming evidence that the sheriff saw against tapia. That might be the funniest thing in the world. A statement for a cop that never ever made an arrest. She doesn’t even know what probable cause is. But I really hope she learns when real cops arrest her and her so cute little doctor Vicky esquire PHD. I hope I can get his chief of staff badge to put in a shadow box on my mantle.
False arrest Fox? Ya ok.
Man those good ole boys are sure wreaking havoc… oh wait, She recruited and hired Fox then promoted him. She recruited and hired Phillip and he’s gone. She recruited and hired Hsiung and Monoghan and they’re gone. 2 of her former captains left and a records manager also left. The captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and the deputy union all voted for her resignation. 5/6 Captains, most of the lieutenants, and a lot of sergeants Corpus promoted. Yet they all voted for her to resign. Those good ole boys are surely destroying the office… Corpus resign for the good of the Office!
Ps Dan Noyes is a biased reporter.
Absolute lies. Matt Fox joyfully wrote that report and ordered Captains to make that arrest. He admits he knew the evidence wasn’t there and he did it anyway. Brian Philip did the extremely courageous thing of standing up to him and resigned over it. Attorney Mike Rains can say all these nice things about Foxxy because he didn’t work with him. We did. We all know he was fully supportive of the executive staff’s deplorable actions and proudly took his extremely short lived assignment as Acting Assistant Sheriff. He only left when he (more likely his wife) realized he may become liable for his actions. His wife is an attorney for Mike Rains.
We all hope little Foxxy has to write a big check to Deputy Tapia, is permanently unemployable, and shaking in his boots in Tennessee, not that they want him. The icing on the cake would be charges filed against him.
This isn’t about Corzo, Davis, Mueller, Noyes, Bolanos, Munks, or anyone else you want to throw out there. This is NOT about the past. This is about Christina Corpus and her complete and total failure and lack of leadership skills, yet the Public would never know how completely unqualified she is to be the Sheriff of San Mateo County unless they worked there.
And now we are faced with her criminal charges of false campaign election finances. Of course Victor Aenlle, the de facto campaign manager during Corpus’ election, took all of the treasurer duties / campaign finances from the stand-up accountant/tax specialist during Corpus’ campaign. He must not have been doing it Victor’s way. The “campaign manager” filed the required financial disclosure election forms. Of course he did. More reason to remove Corpus from elected office and charge them both! Dirty Politics!
This is about Corpus, while married, relinquishing the department over to her realtor boyfriend Victor Aenlle, who himself couldn’t get a job as a Deputy Sheriff or even as a Police Officer with San Mateo Police Department. Consequently, he cleverly hitched himself to this weak, starry-eyed female, hungry for praise and acceptance. Corpus sounds good behind a podium, but in reality, cannot make her own decisions and if at all, leads by weakness and emotion, not the strength and significance the title of Sheriff requires.
To the Public: This is about Corpus hiring six men from outside the organization into her administration only to have them RUN for the hills, abruptly resign, were forced out or were fired by her in retaliation for truth and honesty — all new faces she brought in from outside the department until they saw the vindictiveness, complete chaos and disarray! Hsuing, Monaghan, Phillips, Fox, her choices, all turned on her. These men saw what the public is not seeing. Aenlle got canned, thankfully. All but one – Perea, the double dipper that knows his days are numbered and should resign before it’s too late and gets thrown into the courtroom himself. It is important to note that Corpus did not incorporate one female into her administration to date. NOT ONE!
Currently, there is NO Administration. NONE!
There is NO Organizational Chart on the Website … NONE!
Note that Victor Aenlle is still represented on the Sheriff’s Website, even though he no longer exists in the organization, banned from entering any Sheriff’s Office building. Corpus can’t bear to remove his name or photo.
Why did 100+ employees flee from the department under her leadership? How are these groups she is hiring passing backgrounds at warp speed, handed uniforms, guns and badges and put into action without completing their training, mandated to work overtime in the jail without clearing their probation periods? It’s all about Publicity, not Safety. Corpus presents well, but in reality, cannot functionally lead. Now she has even pitted herself against the District Attorney who has always had an exemplary relationship with the Sheriff. In her mind, she can do no wrong.
To the Public who voted for Corpus: You were fooled, not understanding that the Christina Corpus you voted for talks a good story line, presents well, but is in no way prepared to be a leader of this magnitude. Scrape off that sticker she vehemently placed on the door in her rage claiming her boyfriend Victor Aenlle as the new Assistant Sheriff, most likely at his direction. Remove his face and name from the website. Such contempt! This man has been telling her what to do from the beginning — this man that is no longer allowed in the building and has no job there; the man that is no doubt still directing her from the kitchen table. His made up position no longer exists, and the huge unjustifiable salary has been withdrawn. Aenlle’s meaningless rebuttal to the Cordell report was pretentious and self-righteous at best — still trying to be relative, which he is not. Her blind, undying support of Aenlle and not the men and women of the organization is a complete and utter insult to all that are doing their best to protect the public through this chaos. It is so clear why the masses within the department want Corpus gone, removed, banished! Embarrassing! It is also clear why Matthew Fox was the latest to run!
This is not a personality contest. Please someone help get Corpus out of there. She is not capable to hold the title of Sheriff.
Respectfully, I disagree. Matthew Fox did not quit because of the DYSFUNCTION (not “disfunction”) within the Office, he was part of the dysfunction. He quit because he realized he was headed towards a criminal indictment for conspiracy and false arrest under color of authority. Fox only discovered just how corrupt the sheriff is when he met with the DA’s office and was shown evidence that Corpus and Aenlle planned on making Fox the scapegoat for arresting Carlos Tapia. It was only then that he made the decision to provide evidence implicating Corpus in exchange for full immunity. To suggest that Fox was not a willing participant in the decision to arrest Carlos Tapia is disingenuous and an outright lie. Matthew Fox may have saved himself from being charged with a crime, but the fact remains, he still committed a crime and for that, he should be decertified by POST.
The truth is, Matthew Fox and his wife, Julia Fox, were avid supporters (financially and otherwise) of Christina Corpus when she was running for sheriff. Corpus repaid that support by hiring Fox as an assistant sheriff.
[Portion removed — If you have proof of this, such as a copy of his personnel file, bring it to us at the Daily Post. But we ask that you not post claims that cannot be verified.]
Also, the fact that Michael Rains is representing Matthew Fox is a huge conflict of interest and completely unethical. Julia Fox is an attorney in the Rains, Lucia, Stern law firm. How is it, then, that Michael Rains doesn’t see a conflict in representing the OSS (the sheriff’s sergeants union) while also employing the wife of the executive staff member who illegally arrested Carlos Tapia and now representing that same staff member? Michael Rains should be reported to the state bar for the ethical violation he is committing.
Please do some basic research before throwing around terms you clearly don’t understand. Please cite your sources that support there’s a conflict of interest here. There are actual rules about conflicts of interest so supply additional information or stop throwing out accusations.
Contrary to your mistaken belief, I understand the California State Bar’s rules regarding conflict of interest apparently better than you.
Since you asked, here it is: Prior to his departure, Matthew Fox instigated an argument with a sergeant that nearly turned physical. The sergeant then filed a complaint with HR against Matthew Fox alleging inappropriate behavior and a threat of physical violence. Additionally, Judge Cordell’s report discussed allegations that included Matthew Fox (see allegation #11) by one of the whistleblowers.
It is abundantly clear that Michael Rains represents clients with adverse interests: the OSS (the sergeants union) and Matthew Fox. This is a clear conflict of interest pursuant to State Bar rule 1.7(a)&(b). Additionally, Matthew Fox is married to an attorney who works for Michael Rains. State Bar rule 1.7(c) prohibits representation of a client who is married to another lawyer in the lawyer’s firm.
Michael Rains should have recused himself and his entire firm from representing Matthew Fox, but instead, he chose to violate the very ethics he is required to uphold. He should be reported to the State Bar.
There’s your research.
Dr. Feelgood … well said. Thanks for the clarification!
Poor false arrest Foxy. Yet another victim of her vision she keeps talking about, but no one can find. Do not feel bad for him for one second. His wife and him were on Corpus’ bandwagon from the beginning. He only changed his tune because his wife talked some sense into him I hope Foxy and Danny P share a cell together in the future.
[Post removed — Please give your opinion without being raunchy.]
I think Fox quit because, yes well said above, he knew Tapia was going to be mad at him, so Fox hid the Union Clockings and because he was part of a disarray that was going to keep Tapia in jail, so he told on Christina (called a blackmail in the work place) as a way to get back at her because she was right on locking Tapia up.
Look, if the state contacts your manager or payroll about overpay in clockings (especially past the 5th hr. everyone knows) then you as the manager needs to do something about it! That’s what I mean, you cannot be a fully Grown man and try and act “a fool (The Main Ingredient) and say it was a “human error” … psst, after the top DA says that, then you know the DA is against Corpus. Right before the holidays … November… $$$ thanksgiving… yes I think Tapia is Guilty of milking the clock and needed to get punished. I also think Fox hid the truth so it could look like a human error, and now that just turns all the tables against Corpus.
Obviously anyone who works in n the SM County B.O.S. is going to give full attention to a complaint, especially about conflicts of interest, but this complaint(s) against Corpus did not come at the right time (how long has anything been going on), the complaints came to save Tapia.
Conflicts of interest rise in jury duty, lawyer cases and things where you have to back off because of a conflict of interest. This Tapia and Fox investigation needs to be investigated better and by the minutes — Fox dug up himself a hole that can be found.
In most places, you could have a relationship with someone in the same level of work as you, Supervisors with Supervisors, At-will workers with At-will workers … it just can’t cross. The state of California should re-write a law that stops getting us in trouble for Human Errors of getting together fast and having some good relationships in the workplace, that’s where you have the right to say, what’s that song, the one Anelle sings to Corpus … “Common baby dry your eyes, wipe your tears, (The Human League), hey born to make mistakes , human mistakes that is. Now Shakey Wakey want to see all yu, let’s make human mistake, it New Years
Shakey Wakey here and going to be a clean slate now, be careful, I got stuff on you to ratt you out.
What? He was arrested November 12th meaning the investigation mysteriously started after the DSA filed the no confidence vote for Aenlle over $950 in the end ? Or why didnt they just correct the card write him up or put him on admin leave? Arrest him? Clear intimidation
Why did this investigation start anyways?
Where is Aenlle’s time card fraud investigation for his volunteer paid hours?
Monica. Please seek help. You need it. You are one of seven people who write nonsense and have no clue how anything works. Please. Seriously. Seek help. Just remember. Just because the sheriff says she is a victim doesn’t mean it’s true. Stop being a lemming. You and James Brown should remember if you have some form of personal gain for her existence. You’re not objective. Just another mindless follower.
No sympathy for Matt . He was a major part of Corpus’ good ol boy system.
Fox was glued to Aenlle and Christina and complicit. He knew they were rotten and corrupt but stuck with them for the sole purpose of advancing his career. He only left because he knew he got in too deep and violated laws. He should give more information and tell what he knows i if he has to redeem himself in any way.
It is also untrue that Corpus did not show anger towards Tapia . Fox knew very well why he was being asked to look into the time card issue . Corpus and Anelle wanted Tapia eliminated. Unbelievable reckless behavior from a bunch of incompetent tyrants . We need to get Corpus out. She is an utter embarrassment to the entire department and especially to women in law-enforcement.
Only good thing about this is Matt Fox will now rat on Corpus, her lover Victor Anelle and Dan Perea who seems to think he can just play dumb and collect checks off of the tax payers of San Mateo County. I can see a scenario where they all get indicted. Tapia needs to go after all their homes, especially Victor Anelle and Matt Fox. Have fun in jail because thats where all of you are going.
Fox and his wife worked on Corpus’ election campaign with campaign manager Victor. Fox knew that he was selling his souls to the Devil, but he was loyal and complicit for the promotions that came with hefty pay raises. When you sleep with dogs, you get fleas.
Remember, California Government Code sections 3060, et seq., outline the procedures for a Grand Jury to remove a public officer from office for misconduct anywhere in California :
• Who can be accused: Any officer of a city, county, or district, including school district personnel commission or governing board members, or humane officers
• What can be accused of: Willful or corrupt misconduct in office
• Who can present the accusation: The grand jury of the county where the officer was appointed or elected
The Grand Jury will investigate the accusation, and may employ private counsel or direct the district attorney to investigate. The accused will be notified by mail and given at least 10 days to respond in writing. The accusation shall state the offense(s) charged in ordinary and concise language, and without repetition.
If the resultant tribunal finds the accusation(s) substantiated, the accused will be removed from office and a successor will be appointed. The accusation shall be delivered by the foreman of the grand jury to the district attorney of the county, unless they are the officer accused. The defendant shall appear at the time stated in the notice and answer the accusation, unless for some sufficient cause the court assigns another day for that purpose. If they do not appear, the court may proceed to hear and determine the accusation in their absence.
The defendant may answer the accusation either by objecting to its sufficiency or any article therein, or by denying the truth of the accusation. If the defendant pleads guilty, or refuses to answer the accusation, the court shall render judgment of conviction against them. If they deny the matters charged, the court shall immediately, or at such time as it appoints, try the accusation.
The trial shall be by a jury, and conducted in all respects in the same manner as the trial of an indictment. Upon a conviction, and at the time appointed by the court, it shall pronounce judgment that the defendant be removed from office. To warrant a removal, the judgment shall be entered upon the minutes, and the causes of removal shall be assigned therein.
Other means of removing a public officer include: Forfeiture of office for those convicted of certain crimes and Impeachment.
Will the defendants please come to order, rise and face the court.
Grand jury took over 2 years in other parts of California.
And to the people giving Aenlle power stop- he’s not the Sheriff or supervisor. Following orders and being intimidated by a civilain employee falls on noone but yourself. Aenlle will sing like a canary and say he never gave orders etc etc etc
This ALL falls on the Sheriff and Undersheriff who ultimately give orders . Parea got conned into stying that day.
You may remember that Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith was the subject of a civil grand jury accusation. She took bribes in return for CCW permits. She went on trial, resigned, yet was found guilty to the accusations, which means she can’t run for sheriff again. Not that it’s likely since she’s 70 or thereabouts.
When will Christina Corpus, Victor Anelle, Dan Perea and Matthew Fox be charged with kidnapping, false arrest and false imprisonment of a Peace Officer? If a regular Deputy Sheriff did what these criminals did they would have been arrested and fired already.
If you recall during the press conference after the DA’s Office exonerated Tapia of any wrongdoing. He asked that a civil rights investigation be opened. First step toward the subject of your post.
Corpus and Dr Vicky remind me of Georgia DA Fani Willis and her lover Nathan Wade. Both women are crooked to the bone and hired their lovers to high profile positions. At least Fani admits to being in a relationship unlike Corpus who has mounting evidence and eye witnesses who testified to her relationship with napoleon. I actually think Fani has more integrity than Corpus who left her children, husband, and all of the employees of the Sheriff’s Office for this so called doctor.
I hope Santa brought a lump of coal to False Arrest Foxy, Borat, the little Doctor, and the visionary Sheriff we can trust. They should have all been on his naughty list!