It’s Day 9 of the hearing where San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus is appealing a decision by the county Board of Supervisors to fire her for corruption. Corpus’ lawyers are calling character witnesses to the stand, including current employees and supporters in her campaign.
Since the public hearing is not being live-streamed, the Post is posting updates from reporter Adriana Hernandez, who is in the courtroom. Check this page throughout the day for Hernandez’s latest. The hearing, now in its 9th day, is expected to run through tomorrow.
10 a.m. — Manjit Sappal, a contractor on Corpus’ executive team, continued his testimony on his experience working with the sheriff.
He was hired on Jan. 6. Sappal was with Corpus on Jan. 23 when she escorted former chief of staff Victor Aenlle around the sheriff’s HQ at 330 Bradford St., across the street from the Redwood City Courthouse. Aenlle had been fired by the Board of Supervisors, and his presence intimidated some employees, the Post reported at the time. The Board of Supervisors fired Aenlle two months earlier, on Nov. 13, following the release of a scathing report by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, who the county hired to investigate a series of HR complaints about Aenlle and Corpus. Cordell’s
Sappal said Corpus has been patient with deputies during meetings. When deputies would not come prepared, Corpus is very graceful and never gets angry.
Corpus needs accurate information from her deputies and there have been occasions when deputies wouldn’t inform her of any important information, Sappal said.
It would make Corpus look out of touch, as if she doesn’t know what is going on in the organization, Sappal said.
There would be times when deputies working in internal affairs would start investigations that target people of color, Sappal said.
Corpus always makes time to meet with deputies, Sappal said.
Hearing officer, retired Judge James Emerson, questioned Corpus attorney Matthew Frauenfeld about the relevance of his questions. Emerson said Sappal has been in the sheriff’s office for only a few months and the weight of the evidence isn’t that great.
Brook Dooley, an attorney for the county, asked Sappal if he knew about any of the transfers or investigations the sheriff’s office had undertaken.
Corpus has been accused of transferring deputies who are critical of her. Former Capt. Brian Philip said he was transferred after he refused to start an internal affairs investigation into Sgt. Javier Acosta, the brother of sergeant’s union president Hector Acosta. Last Friday, Corpus transferred Lieutenants Brandon Hensel and Daniel Reynolds after they testified last week.
Sappal said he didn’t know about the transfers and investigations.
Dooley asked Sappal about his pay. Sappal said he is getting paid a dollar short of $200,000. If it had been $200,000 or above, it would need to be approved by the board of supervisors.
11 a.m. — Sheriff’s Office Finance Director Stacey Stevenson was the next witness to be called.
Frauenfeld asked Stevenson about the negotiations for double overtime pay with the unions. Stevenson said that her office estimated double overtime would cost $13 million for six months while County Executive Mike Callagy’s office estimated $12 million.
Callagy said the county would take care of the cost of double overtime, but it didn’t happen, Stevenson said.
Double overtime was a concern because deputies would report working 18 hours a week of double overtime, Stevenson said.
Franco Muzzio, an attorney for the county, asked Stevenson if she knew about conversations Corpus had with Callagy. Muzzio showed Stevenson an email where Corpus said she would take responsibility for double overtime. Stevenson said she wasn’t aware of those communications.
11:30 a.m. — Corpus’ attorneys called Sheriff’s Detective Michael Garcia to testify.
Garcia said he has worked for 20 years in the sheriff’s office under four sheriffs. Garcia said he was a supporter of Corpus and donated to her campaign.
“In my opinion, we needed change,” Garcia said.
Garcia testified that an employee he interviewed did not pass and was recommended to work in corrections.
In earlier testimony, Sgt. Jimmy Chan said that an employee he interviewed did not pass but was still passed on to continue with a background check because they were a favorite of Garcia, who said he works in professional standards, also known as the recruitment unit.
Elizabeth Heckmann, an attorney for the county, asked Garcia about his appearances on Corpus’s Instagram page.
Heckmann showed several posts where Corpus posted him. Garcia said he wasn’t regularly shown and he has been on her Instagram because he is part of the recruiting unit.
Noon — Ronald “RJ” Jennings, an executive coach and speaker who lives in Half Moon Bay who worked on Corpus’ campaign, was the next witness.
Former DNC chair and attorney for Corpus Tom Perez disclosed that Jennings had attended the hearing for 15 minutes before telling him he couldn’t be present because he was a witness.
Jennings said he participated in Corpus’ campaign and supported the change she wanted to bring to the sheriff’s office.
“It’s hard because my experience is very different. My experience was to run from (law enforcement). Now I’m teaching my son to walk to (law enforcement),” Jennings said, tearing up.
Corpus teared up listening to Jenning’s testimony about policing.
Jennings said retired Judge LaDoris Cordell’s report, which was commissioned by the Board of Supervisors, was a “marketing tool” to remove Corpus. Jennings said the effort to remove Corpus was an example of modern-day lynching.
The county didn’t ask Jennings any questions.
James Johnson, a Corpus supporter, was called to the stand.
Johnson testified that he saw Callagy at Faith and Spirits, a bar in San Carlos and asked him about the efforts to remove Corpus.
Callagy said he had a “process in place,” and when Johnson asked further questions, Callagy would just repeat himself, according to Johnson.
Johnson said he concluded that Callagy wanted to remove Corpus.
Previously, Johnson was interviewed by Christina Ro-Connolly of Oppenheimer Investigations Group, to look into the allegations Corpus made against Callagy. The Oppenheimer report cleared Callagy of any bullying or retaliation against Corpus.
Callagy told Ro-Connolly that his interaction with Johnson was a 20-second encounter where Johnson had waved him over and told Callagy to leave Aenlle and Corpus alone, that they know what they’re doing. Callagy told Ro-Connolly that he responded, “We know what we’re doing also,” and walked away.
Johnson told Ro-Connolly that he connected Corpus to powerful Democrats, such as Perez.
The county didn’t ask Johnson any questions.
1 p.m. — Assistant Sheriff Sergio Enriquez, who has been with the sheriff’s office for about two months, was Corpus’ next witness.
Perez asked Enriquez questions about his experience with investigations and what his thoughts are 38 pending investigations of officers that are awaiting review by Corpus.
Enriquez said that 38 pending investigations is not a lot because in his prior agency at Santa Ana Police Department where they would reach triple digits.
The hearing officer, Emerson, questioned his relevance since Enriquez has only been with the sheriff’s office for 2 months. Enriquez was hired on June 4.
Perez asked Enriquez why he decided to work for Corpus. After a long pause, Enriquez said he was about to say something he doesn’t say too often about others.
“That woman has grit,” Enriquez said. “One word to describe this woman is grit.”
Heckmann made the point that Enriquez has not been at the sheriff’s office for long.
Heckmann asked Enriquez about the 38 investigations completed that only need to be reviewed by Corpus.
“Well, these things take time,” Enriquez said. Enriquez said Corpus likes to review and consider all aspects before making any final decisions on discipline.
Enriquez was the final witness of the day and today’s hearing wrapped up just before 1:30 p.m. Tomorrow, the last day of the hearing, Corpus will take the stand once more at 9 a.m. and closing arguments are estimated to begin at 1 p.m.
In regards to relevant witnesses, why did the judge allow somebody from San Francisco police department yesterday testify about their procedure procedures and they don’t work at San Mateo sheriff office nor do they know anybody except the under sheriff and then the other guy that’s on the power board he was just another friend of Christina and Victor‘s and isn’t a deputy or reserve and hasn’t worked with any of the people in question for this trial the logic in distraction and opinions from people that don’t matter are definitely more poor choices
Because they are trying to defend the indefensible. They’ve got nothing and they know it. The fact that Corpus pushed a disastrous appeal only makes it more obvious that she has terrible judgment and was never up to the job. The performance of her legal team and her “defense” has been a disaster of epic magnitude.
Sappal’s pay is $199,999, just $1 under the amount needing further approval? I would be fired by my employer if I did that.
A $200.000 salary needs approval of the BOS. It’s just knowing how to pay the numbers/salary game. Corpus pulled the same stunt ( smoke and mirrors) when she contracted with Victor during the transitional period.
Why didn’t MikeyG say he’s Christy’s cousin??? Not relevant? And he doesn’t work in Internal Affairs. He works in Professional Standards, doing backgrounds and recommending people to be hired. And sure, he spends a lot of time out of the office recruiting. Or he did before he went on leave. Nice timing.
Garcia was a (Corpus) true believer. True believers? There were what … 12.
When your star witnesses are the a SAL appointed board member and an assistant sheriff who has worked for two months, your case is weak.
Thank you for the great coverage the past two weeks. The POST was are play by play coverage!
This whole case has been an interesting read but having worked for Corpus anyone who thinks this is all unfounded is truly naïve. I was assigned to Headquarters when Corpus was the Headquarters Captain. I thought we had a good working relationship.
However, Manjit Sappal let me set the record straight! Corpus will not meet with a deputy or sergeant that requests a meeting with her. Corpus testified to Noelia Corzo at a board supervisors meeting after she was elected sheriff, she meets with all employee’s that are leaving the Sheriff’s Office to find out why tenured deputies and sergeants were leaving at an alarming rate. Two weeks prior to my retirement I requested an exit interview with Sheriff Corpus, I saw the email that was sent directly to her and was verbally told a couple days later she was NOT willing to meet with me. I’m sure the verbal answer was so she can deny this ever happened. I asked for an email stating she was not willing to meet with me but never received a response. I also know firsthand at least six other sworn employees who requested exit interviews who were all denied a meeting with Corpus.
I hope when this is all over, the Sheriff’s Office can get back on track and return to the primer law enforcement agency it used to be. The citizens of San Mateo County deserve the best!
Just in case Adriana Hernandez and The Daily Post’s staff don’t get to this first: The “Johnson” referenced, as the next defense witness after Jennings, would be one James Johnson, county resident, who according to the Oppenheimer Report had a brief encounter with County Executive Callagy at Faith & Spirits in San Carlos, some time in November 2024. This is in pp. 32-35 of Oppenheimer’s analysis (which can be read on S.M.C.’s “CEO” department’s Web pages).
James aka Jimmy Johnson is a tool. He is another wannabe like Doc Aenlle. Birds of a Feather..well you know. Johnson tries to insert himself into political social issues but can’t quite keep up due to not being very articulate or sincere.
So far I am completely underwhelmed by her witnesses. Is this the best Corpus’s legal team could come up with?
Christy’s case has disintegrated right before our eyes. The only reason they’re bringing her back is to have her “revise” and “clarify” her previous testimony so it lines up with the other witnesses. In other words, they’re trying to head off perjury charges.
This whole hearing has only proven without a shadow of a doubt that Corpus and her filthy chosen few are absolute crooks. Violating Civil Rights in retaliation against good people. Punitive transfers for going against her and her posse of clowns. They can bring her back on tomorrow to try to fix what she lied about…but….the damage is already done. She lied under oath and got caught multiple time along with her shrimpy little vicky. This judge is way too smart to get fooled by these idiots! Same as Judge Cordell who exposed them for what they are.
The hearing Judge only needs a
Preponderance of evidence. May he stop the bleeding and submit his findings/recommendations in a timely matter. (Think O.J.. Year – long trial – wide verdict in 4 hours.)
It continues to impress me how stupid and incompetent her lawyers are. I read the transcripts, what a bunch of junior woodchucks these guys are. Procedural errors, revealing confidential information, inadvertent admission of predudicial evidence, evidentiary rules not being followed. Oh and we the tax payers are on the hook for these slobs. But I guess it follows the norm, you can’t hire anyone smarter than you, as you dont know what smarter is. I have seen better lawyers in Santa Clara Traffic Court. I leave it at this, if you hire lawyers from the “close cover before striking” matchbook advert school, this is what you get ! Despite the large bills…
I’m no lawyer, and this is a hearing, not a trial, however I sincerely hope Judge Emerson is able to include in his recommendation that there will be no second hearing due to ineffective counsel. The county is bleeding money over this case and we just need it to end.
lol…. Her attorneys have ZERO to work with. I don’t know if it’s hubris or arrogance on her part, but clearly her plan is to create as much chaos and damage on her way out as she can. That way everyone who opposed her learns a lesson
Let her go back no need to speak with her anymore.clear as day she is the one who is embarrassed- should we replay that video tomorrow of Corpus saying the county will be embarrassed – of what electing her?
Insane that the best her 5-6 lawyers could find are residents of half moon bay and pal board members to defend her? Why isn’t she resigning? I am confused?
And then victor says she is vindicated? Of what? And how?she said absolutely nothing of value- she has definitely memorized her inauguration speech we all know she was supposedly car jacked and why she went into law enforcement .
What we don’t know is why she let Hsiung and Mionaghan go and defended her crazy loser realtor dude?
100+ I.A.’s in an agency with 350 sworn? So about 1/3 of your officers were under investigation?? Sounds like a poorly run agency. The 38 SMSO investigations aren’t complete because Christy’s time is spent ordering conference room tables, massage chairs, handing out stickers and talking to her circus of attorneys.
Betcha, when she is back on the stand, she’ll cry!
She and Aenlle surely stayed up all night strategizing. It’s not lookin good so bring on the tears Christy! What a lame attempt at trying to humanize herself.
Called it!