Beset by scheduling challenges and an injury, the prosecution of suspended Mendocino County Auditor Chamise Cubbison is grinding to a halt for the holidays.
Cubbison attorney Chris Andrian said a remote conference will be held today (Wednesday) to reschedule proceedings for some time in January. Andrian was scheduled to press his argument at 1:30 p.m. today to have District Attorney David Eyster recused from the case but that hearing will now be held in January, said the Santa Rosa attorney.
Cubbison this week suffered a serious foot injury, and was unable to make a scheduled hearing today, according to Andrian. “It’s the last thing she needs at this point, but it has happened, and she is receiving medical care.”
In the meantime, Cubbison’s co-defendant Paula June Kennedy, the county’s former Payroll Manager, entered a not guilty plea as expected on Tuesday to a single felony charge of misappropriation of public funds. Public Defender Mary LeClaire is representing Kennedy.
Eyster on Oct. 17 filed a felony criminal complaint accusing Kennedy of receiving $68,100 in unauthorized extra pay from 2029 to 2022 and blaming Cubbison for using an obscure payroll code to allow the payments to be processed. Both defendants contend the extra pay was for work actually done, and that Cubbison did not personally benefit.
Andrian is seeking to have DA Eyster recused from further prosecuting the Cubbison case because of a history of conflict between him and the duly elected auditor, who began her term in January of this year. Eyster has publicly quarreled with Cubbison over her questioning of his spending of asset forfeiture funds for staff dinners and travel reimbursements, and he took the unprecedented step of opposing her appointment as acting auditor when then Auditor Lloyd Weer retired early. Eyster has quarreled with county auditors over spending practices since he took office in 2011.
Cubbison and Kennedy are free on their own recognizance.
Is Cubbison going to get a neck injury before her trial too so she looks helpless and innocent to a jury of her peers?
Suprise!!! Anything to avoid accountability. Rampant corruption is getting to be the norm for anyone in power or handling taxpayer funds