Hollister
– After nearly three months on paid administrative leave,
suspended San Benito County Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts
is no longer employed by the county.
Hollister – After nearly three months on paid administrative leave, suspended San Benito County Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts is no longer employed by the county.
San Benito County Superior Court Executive Officer Gil Solorio confirmed on Wednesday that Botts was no longer employed by the county. He said her formal severance was effective Tuesday.
“The Superior Court and Ms. Botts have agreed to end their working relationship,” Solorio said.
The county was also involved in discussions regarding the implementation of that decision, Solorio said.
Solorio said he was prohibited by state law from discussing the reasons behind Botts’ departure.
After Botts was placed on leave in October, Solorio said, it took several months of discussions and mediation procedures before the decision for Botts to leave was made.
Botts could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Botts was placed on leave by the San Benito County Superior Court for undisclosed reasons. Former Juvenile Hall Superintendent Tim Pierleoni, who served as second in command under Botts, was also placed on leave at the same time. He resigned a month later.
Pierleoni’s attorney, Steven Cohn, previously told the Free Lance that the former Juvenile Hall superintendent had been suspended after a host of charges, including allegations of accessing pornography at work and having extramarital affairs with employees, were leveled against him during an investigation into the department.
Cohn denied that his client had done anything wrong and blamed problems within the department on Botts, who he claimed sent explicit e-mails to Pierleoni and set lax standards within the department.
After Botts was placed on paid administrative leave in October, the Superior Court appointed longtime Probation Department employee Mary Covell as interim chief probation officer.
Solorio said Wednesday that judges Steven Sanders and Harry Tobias will be working with the county’s Juvenile Justice Commission to select a permanent chief probation officer. He estimated the process of finding a replacement would take at least three or four months.
Solorio emphasized that Covell’s appointment as chief probation officer had been on an interim basis, which is why the court is now seeking a permanent replacement.
“Ms. Covell has selflessly applied herself to improving the Probation Department and we are appreciative of her work,” he said.
Solorio also pointed out that Covell had taken on the job as chief on top of her responsibilities as a regular probation officer without a pay increase.
County Supervisor Reb Monaco said he feels confident in Covell’s leadership and said the turmoil within the Probation Department is over.
“I think all parties involved in this have handled themselves very well,” he said. “I think they faced the problem and it’s time for us to move on.”
Monaco said he did not know exactly what the problem within the department had been or why both Botts and Pierleoni left.
Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller said his officers continue to work well with their counterparts at the Probation Department.
Court and county officials have repeatedly refused to identify the reasons behind the departure of Botts and Pierleoni, the department’s top two officials, citing employee confidentially laws.
Brett Rowland can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 332 or br******@fr***********.com.
