CAO Pedro Issues Fraser Impact Statement
Sonora, CA — Prior to the Wednesday afternoon sentencing of Thomas Jefferson Fraser IV in Tuolumne County Superior Court on one count of grand theft from the county over a three year period, Tuolumne CAO Craig Pedro issued a statement. Portion of that statement follow …
In my 28 years of local government service, 24 of those years here in Tuolumne County, I am unaware of any other case that begins to compare to the breadth of misuse of County time, labor, equipment, materials and property as exists in this case nor the long time frame over which these abuses occurred. When the allegations of wrong doing involving Mr. Fraser were first brought forth, I had hoped that they would be found to be without merit both for Mr. Fraser’s and the County’s sake. Instead two independent investigations, a criminal investigation by the District Attorney’s Office and a personnel investigation conducted by the County’s Human Resources Department found that the allegations were true and broader than first reported.
Your Honor, how can you help repair the damage that has been done in this case to the public trust and the professional and ethical standards with the County organization? First, confirm the reality of these offenses. They did occur. Make it clear that Mr. Fraser’s actions were wrong and clear violations of the law. Second, hold Mr. Fraser accountable. Extend a sentence proportionate to the severity of Mr. Fraser’s crime of grand theft to which he has already pled guilty. That sentence should include time in County Jail.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
In my 28 years of local government service, 24 of those years here in Tuolumne County, I am unaware of any other case that begins to compare to the breadth of misuse of County time, labor, equipment, materials and property as exists in this case nor the long time frame over which these abuses occurred. When the allegations of wrong doing involving Mr. Fraser were first brought forth, I had hoped that they would be found to be without merit both for Mr. Fraser’s and the County’s sake. Instead two independent investigations, a criminal investigation by the District Attorney’s Office and a personnel investigation conducted by the County’s Human Resources Department found that the allegations were true and broader than first reported.
Your Honor, how can you help repair the damage that has been done in this case to the public trust and the professional and ethical standards with the County organization? First, confirm the reality of these offenses. They did occur. Make it clear that Mr. Fraser’s actions were wrong and clear violations of the law. Second, hold Mr. Fraser accountable. Extend a sentence proportionate to the severity of Mr. Fraser’s crime of grand theft to which he has already pled guilty. That sentence should include time in County Jail.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
