In June 2018, the Sutter County Grand Jury (GJ) refused to sign a severely edited version of their work and resigned. Therefore, no GJ report was available for the public.
Sutter County Superior Court Judge Brian Aronson, after taking over GJ supervision from Judge Sarah Heckman who was unable to manage the controversial testimony given the jury, did his best to bury the information gleaned about troubled District Attorney (DA) Amanda Hopper and County Counsel Jean Jordan.
Next, Aronson resigned his position on the bench after just being elected to a fifth 4-year term of office. Hopper was re-elected to her second term and Jordon was given an extension on her contract by the Board of Supervisors.
Former DA lead investigator Jason Parker, also of interest to the GJ, was fired and his dismissal upheld by county supervisors even after an Administrative Law Judge ruled the county had no grounds to dispose of Parker. Both Parker and investigator Dave Williams were repeatedly attacked by Hopper in Appeal Democrat newspaper articles questioning their credibility and character.
The 2017-18 Grand Jury received numerous complaints regarding Hopper’s office that led to its inquiry. The complaints included a “hostile work environment, retaliation, listening to an illegal wiretap, and violating the county vehicle use policy.”
Current and past employees interviewed described working in a “hostile work environment.” Vulgarity, profanity, juvenile behavior and inappropriate text messages were noted as common place and condoned by the DA. The GJ found the accusations credible while the DA considered the behavior acceptable since the employees were adults.
Hopper is quoted, “I’m never going to tell an adult human being in my office, you know, hey we’re having a conversation, watch your mouth. No, that’s not what would happen.” The GJ report said this gave staff the impression that vulgarity and profanity were acceptable.
An illegal recording of a private conversation with Anu Chopra, former attorney in the DA’s office was presented by a citizen to DA Hopper. Chopra had been fired from the office, then sued the county for unlawful dismissal and was considering opposing Hopper for re-election.
Hopper listened to the recording. Since this GJ was not a criminal GJ they could not bring a legal action against her, but described it as “unseemly.” If proven, this would be the District Attorney herself violating the law.
The GJ found that the DA ignored the county’s Vehicle Use Policy. The county policy forbids transporting passengers except for county business purposes. The complaint was that the DA used her county vehicle routinely for personal use and also requested DA office personnel to retrieve her children from school or the dentist’s office in county vehicles while employees were working. The DA admitted she had done so. This could be considered a theft of public funds.
The GJ says County Counsel Jean Jordan violated confidentiality and the law by attending a closed hearing on December 15, 2017 and then reporting the information to DA Hopper. The GJ was investigating the DA’s office, Jordan had recused herself from advising the GJ but attended the meeting anyway. Others present were Judge Aronson, a representative from the State Attorney General’s office, the GJ Foreman and the GJ Pro-Tem. The judge ordered the hearing records sealed and confidential.
On February 9, 2018, DA Hopper admitted to the GJ that Jordan leaked information to her. On March 8, 2018 the GJ interviewed Jordan about passing the information and concluded Jordan was not telling the truth.
The GJ recommendation regarding the Jordan incident was that the Superior Court consider contempt of court proceedings ordering the Sutter County Counsel to show cause why she should not be held in contempt for disclosing confidential information obtained in a closed court session regarding the Sutter County District Attorney.
After manipulating GJ findings and suppressing the report, depriving residents of the GJ testimony, Judge Aronson will be remembered for covering wrong-doing of government officials and disrespecting the work of 19 Sutter County jury members.
Hopper and Jordan escape unscathed after Hopper threatened to sue the GJ for its findings. Jordan, contrary to state law, told jury members that the county would not provide a defense for them if sued by Hopper.