Corpus’ lawyers put character witnesses on the stand, one saying she has ‘grit’

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer

San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus has grit for undergoing the removal process, a “modern-day lynching,” according to a witness her lawyers put on the stand yesterday.

“That woman has grit,” said her assistant sheriff, Sergio Enriquez, who has been with the department for a couple of months. “One word to describe this woman is grit.”

Corpus’ new assistant sheriff testified on why he decided to work for Corpus yesterday. After a long pause, Enriquez said Corpus has grit, something he doesn’t say too often about others.

Enriquez was one of six character witnesses put on by Corpus’ legal team yesterday before a 10-day hearing wrapped up. In the hearing, Corpus was given a chance to appeal her firing by the Board of Supervisors. The supervisors have allowed her to remain in her job while she appeals.

Another witness yesterday, executive coach Ronald “RJ” Jennings, got emotional yesterday and called the efforts to remove Corpus a modern-day lynching.

Jennings said a report commissioned by the supervisors by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell’s report was a marketing tool to remove Corpus. The supervisors hired Cordell to investigate a series of HR complaints about Corpus and her former chief of staff, and alleged boyfriend, Victor Aenlle. Cordell concluded Corpus and Aenlle were running the office through intimidation and retaliation.

Jennings, an executive coach who lives in Half Moon Bay, 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 also teared up.

Former DNC chair and Corpus attorney Tom Perez asked Enriquez, Corpus’ new assistant sheriff, if he was concerned that there were 38 pending internal affairs investigations waiting for action by the sheriff.

Enriquez said the 38 pending investigations are not a lot compared to his prior agency at the Santa Ana Police Department, where pending investigations would reach triple digits.

During previous testimony, Lt. Dan Reynolds said Corpus and Undersheriff Dan Perea have mismanaged the sheriff’s office by not taking action on internal affairs investigations. There were 12 internal, 13 uses of force and 13 civilian investigations pending, according to Reynolds.

Elizabeth Heckmann, the county’s attorney, asked Enriquez about the 38 investigations. Heckman noted that the investigations had been completed only needed 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.

The hearing officer, retired Judge James Emerson, questioned the relevance of Enriquez’s testimony since he had only been with the sheriff’s office for two months. Enriquez was hired on June 4.

Enriquez is Corpus’ third assistant sheriff since she took office in January 2023. Corspus fired Ryan Monaghan after Cordell interviewed him. Matt Fox resigned amid the chaos after the Cordell report was released.

Corpus’s legal team called in Detective Michael Garcia to testify. Garcia said he has worked in the sheriff’s office for 20 years under four sheriffs.

Garcia said he was a supporter of Corpus and donated to her campaign.

Garcia testified that during an interview process with Sgt. Jimmy Chan and Associate Management Analyst Valarie Barnes, an employee didn’t pass but was recommended for work in the jail. Details were not disclosed to avoid identifying the employee.

In earlier testimony, Chan said that the employee was a favorite of Garcia.

Corpus will take the stand once more at 9 a.m. today. Closing arguments are estimated to begin at 1 p.m.