Chamise Cubbison returned quietly to her top county financial office on Wednesday for the first time since she was locked out 17 months ago.
No corks were popped or balloons blown up, but it was a triumphant return for a veteran county employee who risked a criminal conviction. Cubbison chose to fight felony allegations filed against her by District Attorney David Eyster in October 2022.
“I have returned to the office and look forward to getting back to the important work the people elected me to perform,” said Cubbison.
It was Cubbison’s first public statement since Superior Court Judge Ann Moorman dismissed her criminal charges on Tuesday.
Cubbison said she was “proud of what my team of employees accomplished in my absence, and we hope to continue their positive progress.”
Cubbison said she was pleased and grateful for Judge Ann Moorman’s decision to end 17 months of prosecution.
“I thank the court, my legal team, my family, and the community of supporters and interested citizens of Mendocino County,” said Cubbison.
After Eyster acted, and Cubbison was escorted out of her office and suspended without pay or benefits by the Board of Supervisors, the embattled Auditor decided to stand her ground. Cubbison declined the DA’s misdemeanor plea offer in return for her resignation.
On Wednesday, a half dozen county officials, including CEO Darcie Antle, did not return calls inquiring about Cubbison’s official status and whether she had been formally reinstated now that she is free of criminal charges.
Defense attorney Chris Andrian was the first to confirm that Cubbison had returned to work in her office at the county Administration Center on Low Gap Road in Ukiah.
“I can confirm she went back to work today, where she should have been for the past 17 months,” said Andrian. “I am very happy for her. She is a good person who did no wrong.”
Cubbison, by Wednesday evening, decided to make her public statement.
Judge Moorman opened the door for Cubbison’s return to public duty when by tossing out criminal charges a day before, delivering a blow to Eyster, and ending his bid to permanently oust the elected head of the combined county Auditor/Controller and Treasurer/Tax Collector offices.
Eyster had quarreled with Cubbison over his office expenses and publicly denounced two years before charging her in an extraordinary appearance before the Board of Supervisors. Cubbison supporters accused the district attorney of waging a “vendetta” against Cubbison for challenging his office expenses.
Moorman on Tuesday issued a scathing indictment of the prosecution, citing a variety of weaknesses in the felony misappropriation of public funds case.
Eyster targeted Cubbison and former Payroll Manager Paula June Kennedy in October 2023 in an alleged conspiracy to use an obscure pay code so Kennedy could collect about $68,000 in extra pay over three years during the Covid pandemic.
In her damning assessment, Moorman ripped what she believed to be “willful ignorance” among county officials who testified during a preliminary hearing, the soft investigation of what was an alleged white-collar crime, and the truthfulness of key witnesses, including retired county Auditor Lloyd Weer.
CEO Darcie Antle did not respond to inquiries about Cubbison’s status on Wednesday, nor did Cherie Johnson, the county Human Resources manager who testified at the preliminary hearing.
Morin Jacobs, the San Francisco attorney representing county officials in Cubbison’s pending civil litigation against the Board of Supervisors, replied via an automatic email that she was out of the office and unavailable.
Andrian said Cubbison’s return to work does not mean her pending civil litigation is on the back burner.
“We are going to keep the heat on because there was a great injustice here,” said Andrian about the legal efforts. They are enhanced now that the criminal case has been dismissed.
Therese Cannata, Cubbison’s San Francisco attorney, said Tuesday her goal was “immediate reinstatement” of Cubbison.
During the preliminary hearing, Antle, other county officials, and investigators testified that Kennedy had undoubtedly worked the hours she paid herself for. Judge Moorman found no evidence Cubbison personally benefitted from the extra pay or engaged in any crime.
If DA Eyster doesn’t resign, he should be recalled.
Would need 7444 signatures to get in on the ballot. That would not be easy
I don’t think it would be that difficult since the you can collect them from the entire county. Just as it wouldn’t be that difficult to get the necessary recall signatures for the three continuing supervisors who went along with this charade and miscarriage of justice (Hascheck, Mulharen, and Williams). The Board of Supervisors should also demand Darcie Antle’s resignation or terminate her if she refuses.
It’s good to hear someone else bring this up. She has sold our county out to Adventist Health.
Add the CEO to the Get Rid of List.
Nice work Moorman. Cubbison congrats for standing up for truth. County HR has a lot of toxic, rude, mental mind game tendencies. Worry about avoiding lawsuits, twisting statements and actions to make “bad” employees look BAD oooooo. They are bad!!! We the management teams are PERFECT we do no wrong, sing our song lalalala. Watch out Chamise they are reeling.
The DA should be recalled and the rest of the lot that was involved in this should be as well.
JUSTICE SERVED FINALLY.
Justice will finally be served if Eyster ends up behind bars where he belongs
Lots of blame to go around. From Eyster’s misuse of power, to the sheriff’s poor investigation, to Darcie Antle supporting this, and to County Counsel telling the BOS it was okay to suspend Cubbinson. This is going to cost the County a fortune.
Yeah, and unfortunately none of the perps will likely have to defray any of that cost – as usual it’s on school kids who will experience cuts to education, citizens who will have to absorb the cost of unmaintained roads via repair bills,…
This should merit another pay raise for the CEO and Supervisors.
Speaking of that raise a year ago, maybe we should run an initiative this year for the November election to set the supervisors’ salaries back to where they were before they gave themselves that raise. What a way to say thanks! During the campaign the Supes will likely lose another case of their wretched judgement — brought by the owner of Creekside Cabins & RV Park — the case where the road over the creek to the property north of Willits washed out in a major storm. The State owns that short section of road, but the Supes tried to charge the owner of the RV property for expenses the County incurred for the emergency. That case is scheduled for court in the coming months.
Mendocino as a region thrived under a black market and isolationist policy for decades and everyone is acting surprised that their county gov’t does dirty deeds as a part of their normal operation. All of these players, good, bad, and the ugly, are elected by Mendocino voters.
I don’t understand how people who work for us can refuse to respond to inquiries by local reporters.
Red Headed Blackbelt has done a wonderful job in covering this case. We all owe him thanks.
Not trying to correct your pronouns or anything but I believe Redheaded Blackbelt (Kym Kemp) is a she and is indeed an excellent reporter.
I believe you are wrong.
This must be incredible awkward. Hopefully her and Sara Pierce have a good working relationship and the transition can be smooth and fruitful. Lots of catching up to do
Sarah Pierce doesn’t seem like part of the problem so I agree, although I doubt Chamise Cubbison would be comfortable with her help at least as she settles back into her role. Unfortunately, I can’t imagine a scenario where anyone would want to continue working with Darcie Antle since it appears she was in on this (or one of those described as “willfully ignorant”). There appears to have been an alarming lack of integrity from many involved and the buck stops with the top, the County CEO and Supervisors.
Sarah Pierce should probably resign and lawyer up. She’s been in this position for 18 months that she had no right to be in. Did she acquiesce to Eysters credit card charges of steak and lobster dinners for friends and family? Why has she been working with Ted to mess with the Treasury’s investment policy? With Cubbison back in office the public will be getting some answers.
I don’t know Sara and she could be a great person. With that being said, Chamise should send her back to her original position. Remember Sara’s direct boss is Darcy Antle. Chamise needs to be alert, these people who tried to oust her are still there. Fortunately she is elected and only answers to voters. The BOS and CEO are not her bosses.
Damn straight! Send Sara back to wherever she came from, she was only a placeholder during this terrible miscarriage of justice. Ms. Cubbison can’t trust anyone, which is not an enviable position to be in at all, how difficult!
Sara Pierce and I were former colleagues at Adventist Health and I can say with confidence that she is incredibly sharp and highly ethical. I don’t see her trying to sabotage Chamise or get involved in any political games. I see them both as strong, hard-working women who just want to do a good job. We need both of them with their sharp pencils so let’s please show our support.
I think you are right. Hopefully she can act as a bridge between Chemise and the executive office. I am hoping to that these fresh supervisors might help to. Mo and John did vote to suspend her, but they were not receivers of Eysters emails, so I like to think they are no as entrenched. Ted Williams was def a major player in this travisty, from all angles. He was the one how authored the gloating press release about how they were uncovering corruption etc when Chemise was arrested. Personly I think it was kind of a Williams-Eyster joint project
She does seem very competent. Hopefully she can be kind of a bridge between chemis and the executive office
As long as Sara’s boss is the CEO. Chamise needs to get her out. Has nothing to do with Sara. No one thought Ms. Antle played much of a role in this. Then after the court case we found out she played a huge roll. Remember it was the CEO’s office that alerted the Sheriffs office of Kennedy’s payments. They knew full well these payments were legit. Sara must have watched this happen or she could have been involved. Get her out, Chamise. Your job is just beginning. You need to watch your back!
At least Sara knows what she is doing, where Chamise never did. I for one am sorry to hear Chamise is back.
Back to no answers. Incorrect answers.
Eyester ought to be laughed out of the county. The guy is a joke in my opinion & I’d say most of the county agrees with me.
David Eyester the money wasting shyster.
Eyster and Antle should resign or be prosecuted for Conspiracy. They lied and ruined some woman’s life. They’re corrupt as you can be. Look at the taxpayer money those two Clowns wasted.
If those two were the type of a standard County staff member they would have done the disappearing on them a while ago. With Shyster being elected and Antel nepoed in without question they feel untouchsble. They MUST GO.
Sure glad mighty Mike is reporting on all this. Great job. Good grief what a Shakespearean comedy, farce and tragedy all rolled into one. And guess who pays for it? Us! Maybe the county could write a comedic thriller novel from this and sell it and recoup some of the millions of tax dollars wasted, with more to come.
Seeing negative comments regarding Sara Pierce is very disheartening. She was put in a difficult position and rose above. The amount of time and energy Sara dedicated to the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer Tax Collector’s office is unfathomable. This position requires extraordinary and selfless dedication and commitment that most wouldn’t see unless working along side these two women as myself and our staff have. Sara and Chamise are incredibly ethical and that should not come into question. I can speak on behalf of our entire department by saying how grateful we are to have had such an incredible and dedicated leader during this time. Sara really stepped up in a way that most others would not and could not have in this situation. She is such an inspiration and someone we all admire. I cannot think of a better person who could have stepped into this role. She worked tirelessly to ensure she did what was right and best for this department. Any department in this county that has worked with her would likely say the same. She is one of a kind and the County is beyond lucky to have her.
I would like to note that we are incredibly happy that Chamise’s name has been cleared and to have her back as our leader. We stand behind both Sara and Chamise. Hopefully this will quash any false assumptions being made in regard to Sara’s integrity.
Way to go! As a longtime public employee, I always believed this was only a case of no one bureaucrat being able to be an expert on all the regs. And trying to cover three positions at once? (I know from personal experience what that is like.) The County mavens should never have combined those jobs, losing oversight; I thought it a mistake when they did it. And I will never vote for David Eyster again for anything. Thanks to Chris Andrian and the excellent news services Mendofever and Redheaded Blackbelt. I just hope the County will have enough money left for essential services for us the people.
Congratulations! And I’m so sorry, Chamise. Following this story for the last two years has been heartbreaking thinking of the injustice you’ve faced, and maddening to see the corrupt actions of county officials . You stood strong and spoke truth to power. That is what the upmost integrity looks like. We should expect nothing less from our elected officials.
The voters deserve better from the elected representatives here in the county. Time to discuss a class action suit representing the voters due to the county’s perp walking out our elected auditor. No recall no felony conviction the auditor was illegally removed.
How much of the seized money was spent on Eyster’s “Training Sessions”?
https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-mendocino-pot-20140526-story.html
None while Chamise was the Auditor.
It is evident that Eyster has a troubling history of conducting witch hunts against individuals within our community, whether they are public citizens or employees. His questionable ethics and vindictive behavior have led to significant financial costs for the county due to litigation. It is essential to acknowledge his actions and hold him accountable for the abuse of power he has demonstrated. It is time for his resignation.
Not to mention the fact that it is a proven fact that he regularly drinks and drives and no one does anything about it.
Does she get back pay gir the 17 months she was out? She should.
This just in. Over $2 million dollars was spent on attorney’s fees faster in this case. Now what will happen in the civil case by the time the judgments are done? Seriously you’re looking at probably seven almost eight million dollars spent over 68,000k. Because somebody couldn’t contain their sick need to control. Lord help us all.