An investigation being conducted by San Benito County District
Attorney John Sarsfield is a malicious attack intended to publicly
discredit a local investigator, according to a complaint filed with
the California State Bar Association.
On Wednesday, private investigator Dennis Stafford filed a
formal complaint against Sarsfield with the bar.
An investigation being conducted by San Benito County District Attorney John Sarsfield is a malicious attack intended to publicly discredit a local investigator, according to a complaint filed with the California State Bar Association.
On Wednesday, private investigator Dennis Stafford filed a formal complaint against Sarsfield with the bar.
In his complaint, Stafford alleges Sarsfield knowingly conducted an investigation into a list of approximately 60 prior convictions in which Stafford was involved, just so he could embarrass him. He said Sarsfield also made accusations, during a Sept. 10 press conference, that he will not be able to substantiate.
“I think it is appropriate for the bar to look at Sarsfield’s false and misleading statements at the press conference because they are inflammatory,” Stafford said in the complaint.
Stafford takes direct issue with Sarsfield’s claim that the state Attorney General’s Office ordered Sarsfield to conduct an investigation into possible violations of the Brady Standard involving Stafford and the prior district attorney’s administration.
The Brady Standard is based on a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said prosecutors have to turn over any information they have that could benefit the defense’s case.
Sarsfield has repeatedly denied claims that he has misled anyone or is not acting on the direction of the Attorney General’s office. He said Chief Assistant Attorney General Robert Anderson tol him to investigate the cases.
“I was directed by Mr. Anderson to conduct a full internal review of all cases that might be impacted. I was also directed to advise our presiding judge that many of these cases would be returning to court,” Sarsfield said in a previous interview.
San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill has backed up Sarsfield’s memory of their meeting with Anderson.
However, Nathan Barankin, a spokesman with the Attorney General’s Office said that Sarsfield and Hill’s recollections were “not exactly” accurate.
“Our office and Mr. Anderson did not make any decision on whether or not there is a Brady issue,” Barankin said. “The District Attorney asked Mr. Anderson for advice, and Mr. Anderson told him what he thinks he should do if he determines there was a Brady violation. The rest is up to him.”
Stafford said in his complaint that Sarsfield has known this all along and that he was trying to make it sound as if the attorney general had given him the authority to do this.
“I believe Sarsfield is trying to hide behind the AG’s skirt. Mr. Sarsfield’s attack is nothing more than a political vendetta because of my support of his opponent in the recent election,” according to Stafford’s complaint. “There is also the fact that I have been the investigator in a number of losses his office has suffered in court.”
