Believes document contains material pertinent to criminal case
A local attorney has filed a request for a copy of the 2017-18 Sutter County grand jury report. That report was not officially filed.
Jesse Santana said he believes the report contains material pertinent to a criminal defendant he represents. The letter requesting the copy went to Judge Brian Aronson, Sutter County Counsel Jean Jordan and Deputy District Attorney Adam McBride.
It was reported earlier that the grand jury did not submit a final report, though county supervisors reported they had received copies.
Santana represents Danelle Stylos, the former county Development Services director who was arrested in March 2017 on suspicion of perjury, voter fraud, petty theft and filing false information on a concealed carry permit.
Santana’s letter, sent last week, also requests that they not destroy, conceal or alter the reports, draft reports, notes and findings.
“We believe that the 2017-2018 Sutter County Grand Jury report contains Brady material and other material information that will exonerate Ms. Stylos and/or provide information and evidence that will cast doubt on the pending criminal charges and prosecution of Ms. Stylos,” Santana wrote.
“Brady material” refers to the 1963 Brady v. Maryland court case which established that prosecutors must turn over to defense teams all evidence that may exonerate the defendant.
Though the Sutter County Board of Supervisors and other affected departments received copies of a report, the grand jury reportedly elected not to publish one this year, according to the county website. At the June 29 empanelment of the new grand jury, none of the members of the outgoing jury attended, and rumors circulated that all members resigned.
In a Facebook post two weeks ago, Sutter County supervisor candidate Paul Basi questioned the grand jury’s reasons for not publishing the “highly anticipated, controversial document,” and urged judicial authorities to convene a special grand jury to investigate.
William Vanasek, assistant county counsel speaking on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, said
in an email Monday that the board takes no position as to whether the requesting attorney is entitled to a copy of the unpublished final grand jury report.
“There are specific rules that govern the release of grand jury information and even the court is severely restricted in what matters may be disclosed,” Vanasek wrote.
He said the board cannot release the unpublished report to Santana because of California penal code, which in part states: “no officer, agency, department or governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the public release of the final report.”
“Because a final report was never released to the public, only the court has the authority to authorize such a release,” Vanasek wrote.
McBride declined to comment in an email Monday. Court Executive Officer Stephanie Hansel is out of the office and could not respond to an emailed request. An email to court administration went unreturned Monday.
Stylos’ next court appearance is scheduled for July 25.
July 16, 2018
Marysville Appeal-Democrat
By Rachel Rosenbaum
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