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Daily Post Editor
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus has put a sergeant on administrative leave who complained she was mishandling and delaying Internal Affairs investigations into alleged misconduct by deputies.
Sgt. Joe Fava was put on leave on Monday, according to his attorney, Charles Stone. Fava is a detective in the sheriff’s Professional Standards Bureau, which conducts Internal Affairs investigations.
Corpus put Fava on leave the same day the Daily Post printed a story that said she delayed and interfered with investigations into her employees, including a deputy who let a teenager vape in a patrol car and a jail guard who forced inmates to dance “in degrading and provocative ways.”
The Post’s story was based on a report by attorney Jan Little of Keker Van Nest & Peters, a law firm that had been hired by the county Board of Supervisors to investigate Corpus.
The Keker report was originally confidential. But it was released to the public on July 2 when Corpus’ lawyers posted on a court website documents in a case over her removal from office. Corpus’ attorneys at Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney have declined to say why they posted the documents that they had feverishly tried to keep from the public.
Yesterday, attorney Stone confirmed that Fava was placed on administrative leave by Corpus, who didn’t explain her reasoning.
“As we know, Sgt. Fava was identified as an important witness in the removal proceedings concerning Ms. Corpus … as the result of her attorneys failing to file documents confidentially with the court. I know there are many people who already find the timing of the administrative leave decision interesting to say the least,” Stone told the Post.
Two efforts are underway to remove Corpus from office on allegations including that she retaliated and intimidated her employees, that she had an affair with her chief of staff and that she used racial and antisemitic slurs. The civil grand jury has filed an accusation against Corpus that will result in a trial to determine if she should remain as sheriff. And the Board of Supervisors has begun termination proceedings.
Using information from Fava and others in the sheriff’s office, the Keker report determined that Corpus was failing to impose discipline in Internal Affairs cases within one year. If a case runs longer than a year, the county loses the ability to impose any discipline and the accused officer is off the hook.
The Keker report also said Corpus dragged her feet on an investigation into a deputy — said to be one of her “favorites” — who allowed a gang member to record a video of him vaping while in the front passenger seat of a patrol car.
In another case, a jail guard cupped his hand around an inmate’s neck in a video that “would likely shock the conscience of the public if seen,” according to the attorney’s report and a memo by Sgt. Fava.
Corpus also hasn’t imposed discipline in a 2023 case in which a jail guard didn’t report another guard for forcing inmates to dance in what the report said were “degrading and provocative ways.”
Related stories
• July 7 — Report faults sheriff over delayed officer discipline, interference in investigations
• July 10 — Report says sheriff concealed information in order to have critic arrested
• July 2 — Confidential documents in Sheriff Corpus case posted on court website
• July 2 — Email shows sheriff directed purchase of massage chairs, despite what she told supervisors
• July 1 — Sheriff’s crime stats in dispute
• June 30 — Grand jury returns ‘accusation’ against sheriff — she faces trial over whether she should remain in office
• June 25 — Sheriff questioned about $600,000 TV, $74,000 conference room table
• June 18 — The assistant sheriff who Corpus tried to fire is working again
• June 18 — Deputies union president sues sheriff over false arrest
Just when you think she cannot possibly be that stupid….she says hold my beer!!!! Another lawsuit in the wings…..she is reprehensible!!!!!!!
If nothing else, this drama is making Millionaires with San Mateo County tax money.
Did anyone else notice all the unfinished (ignored by Corpus) Internal Affairs Investigations are all Hispanics she is clearly protecting and sweeping it under the rug?!?! This is a blatant coverup by her! It is out of the bag now…what is she gonna do?????
You can’t make this up…Fava does his job and that info comes out in documents Corpus’ idiot attorneys publicly release AND boom!! The moron of a sheriff blatantly retaliates and puts Fava on administrative leave. Perfect set-up for yet another lawsuit against the county. Come on BOS, Wagstaffe and AG Bonta, take this pastey-faced troll out of office NOW! The people of San Mateo County cannot afford these on-going violations of the law any longer.
AGREED! Remove this poor decision maker from anymore destructive and vengeful acts. The County is looking at many more lawsuits to come for allowing a continued toxic work environment that has affected the department’s mental health and professional standards! Put this vile person and Administration on Administrative leave!
If the supervisors have the authority to fire the sheriff, they also have the authority to put her on paid leave. Putting her on leave wouldn’t violate her rights, but it would stop her from further damaging the SO and retaliating against witnesses in her upcoming trials and hearings.
The board has no way to put the Sheriff on leave – she’s elected and protected…
The civil rights division of the AG or Governor maybe to step in
Wow, assistant sheriff Enriquez is here two weeks and already looped into a future lawsuit. He does fit right in with Christy and Perea.
What a surprise… someone with integrity and the courage to stand up for what’s right ends up being cast as the problem. It’s exhausting to keep seeing this pattern.
If Corpus had any sense of conscience, she’d recognize that her behavior doesn’t just jeopardize careers — it can push people to the edge, even to the point of considering taking their own lives. But instead of reflecting on the harm she’s caused, she chooses to play the victim and deflect blame. That’s not leadership — that’s classic narcissism.
Another day in office, another illegal retaliatory action, and no doubt another damn lawsuit. This evil witch is costing the County millions and millions of dollars. Someone PLEASE indict this crazy train wreck of a Sheriff and throw her in jail! Use her pension to pay off some the debts that has foisted on the taxpayers…. It HAS to stop!
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My guess is that Wagstaffe has been wiretapping Christina for a couple of months now. So her decision to retaliate against Fava and others will be played for the jury. If Victor has agreed to become a witness for the DA, he’s been wearing a wire when he’s been with Christina. Why wouldn’t Wagstaffe be collecting evidence like this right now?
Wagstaffe is a DA not FBI
Aenlle would never wear a wire- he’s going down with Corpus.
Parea is part of it too.
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Eventually poop rolls downhill and catches up to people. Eventually, sooner rather than later.
And guess what orher counties have had issues with their elected Sheriff noone else has had cases moved to another county- this is how the law works. Break laws and find out.
Does Mazucco think the case will get moved to Los Angeles or San Francisco? Why ? The waste of money is the $5000-$8000 an hour the Corpus attorneys can bill an hour to have their attorneys all working the case. – multiple that by 6 months of stall tactics. Why would they quit , it’s a numbers game to them. Insane amount of greed just to delay the inevitable.
Mazzuco the Moron. I cant believe how stupid he is, his arguments are simply ridiculous, as in flailing legally and he seems to not know case law, also he does not know legal procedures, where do they find these guys ? But, you gotta hand it to him, he’s doing a GREAT job torching her ridiculous claims. Please, please keep it up and please keep him on the case, so we can then be certain she loses on all accounts. He’s trying the Scott Peterson angle of moving the case, but see how much that helped Scott… I hear San Quentin is nice this time of year…. As to Perea, another very, very minor league player who shall soon be forgotten, other than for his being a Class I brown noser, along with the rest of the sleaze bags. Remember which Agency had a rejoicing party upon getting rid of him. SF Sheriff’s Office is a total joke to start with. Too bad he landed here with VickTina. So, who’s gonna lose their pensions ? that’s all they care about …. Nothing else. Been there. SMC BoD of Supvs, please ensure they ALL lose their pensions, that will get their attention. I for one cannot stand the though of total losers like her and Perea drawing $M over N years for being bums.