BY AMELIA BISCARDI
Daily Post Staff Writer
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, who is facing removal from office, kept from the public details about the rape of a female inmate on a courthouse elevator, a memo from two judges shows.
When the Post learned about the rape from a tipster, a reporter asked Corpus’ spokeswoman, Gretchen Spiker, what happened. She said that an “assault” had occurred between two inmates on Dec. 2 around 3:30 p.m. However, she left out the word “sexual,” making it sound like a jail fight, which is common and not newsworthy.
When the Post asked Spiker via email for more information, she told a reporter to ask the District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told the Post on Dec. 5 that the assault had occurred between a male inmate and a female inmate. When the DA’s office is investigating an incident, they only share details if charges are filed.
At a Dec. 10 Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Noelia Corzo said she wanted an investigation into the elevator rape. Wagstaffe said the same day that his office was still reviewing video footage and interviewing witnesses.
Much more of the story emerged in an email that judges Elizabeth Lee and Stephanie Garratt sent to Sheriff Corpus. The Post obtained the email through a California Public Records Act Request that was fulfilled last week.
The judges said the deputy who was supposed to supervise the inmates while they were going between the Redwood City Courthouse and Maguire Jail “inexplicably” turned his back to the inmates.
They said the female inmate was raped twice.
“It’s common sense not to transport male and female prisoners together, have a female in front of a male, and then turn your back on them,” Garratt said.
There are security protocols to prevent alleged assaults like this, and the judges say the deputy ignored them.
The deputy in the incident, the judges said, had transferred to the county from another police agency. Corpus told the judges that the employee had been fired after the elevator rape.
Corpus has been accused in an independent investigation of nepotism, abuse of power, retaliation, intimidation, racism, homophobia and conflicts of interest. The county supervisors have put on the March 4 ballot Measure A, which would change the county charter to allow them to fire the sheriff.
“Corpus told the judges that the employee had been fired after the elevator rape.” It would seem that Corpus forgot her own attorney’s (Mr Gage) assertion in the claim Gage filed on her behalf against the county for $10M in December 2024. In that claim, Gage asserted that disclosure of confidential information from a peace officer personnel investigation is a violation of that peace officer’s rights under the Peace Officer Bill of Rights (POBAR).
By disclosing that deputy’s termination Corpus has arguably, yet very effectively, violated the privacy rights of the terminated deputy. I would expect that deputy to join those who ultimately file another million dollar claim, followed by litigation, against the county and Corpus for invasion of privacy and inappropriate disclosure of confidential information. Corpus once again demonstrates her complete lack of competency to serve as the elected sheriff.
Now the Sheriff ignores the judges concerns too. Instead put a press release out with hand picked data to say look at me I am awesome crime rates are down her( wait don’t look at the data where I look bad).
Reality is the data has nothing to do with the current sheriff- she doesn’t really come to work or attend any county meetings to coordinate any plans of action.
She lost me at ignoring current issues again.
I have also heard if she does come to work, she’s sequestered in her office. Reason behind the ”contract” hiring of Sappal to run the day-to-day operations of the Office. No law enforcement executive in their right mind would want to be part of her executive staff.
The fact that Corpus withheld crucial information from the judicial staff speaks VOLUMES about her moral standards. If she is willing to lie to these Judges, there is no question she is willing to lie to the public, her supporters, and everyone else who is following her fall from grace. It is time to get her out of office.
While this rape was happening, Sheriff Corpus was in another part of the same building celebrating at a swearing-in ceremony. Yeah, she was partying while a rape took place. And I thought Christina Corpus was going to stand up on behalf of Latinas?
How is ABC7 news still allowing Dan Noyes to report on the Sheriff. The broadcasts are hostile towards deputies and clearly twisting narratives to take blame away from the overall leader Sheriff Corpus. Tainted journalism