Hollister
– San Benito County Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts and
Juvenile Hall Superintendent Tim Pierleoni have both been placed on
administrative leave pending further investigation, but county and
court officials have been silent on the reasons behind the recent
administrative shakeup at the Proba
tion Department.
Hollister – San Benito County Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts and Juvenile Hall Superintendent Tim Pierleoni have both been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation, but county and court officials have been silent on the reasons behind the recent administrative shakeup at the Probation Department.
San Benito County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson confirmed Wednesday that both Botts and Pierleoni had been placed on administrative leave, but offered few details on what sparked the changes.
“There are interims that have been appointed in both cases, but I’m not going to comment on pending internal personnel matters,” Thompson said. “I have no jurisdiction; this is the court’s jurisdiction.”
Deputy Probation Officer Mary Covell has taken over for Botts and Rita Campbell has been selected to fill in for Pierleoni, according to Probation officials.
The Chief Probation Officer is appointed by the presiding Superior Court Judge. Botts was placed on administrative leave effective Wednesday and Covell was tapped to fill in, Judge Steven Sanders said Wednesday.
“Judge (Harry) Tobias and I have appointed an interim pending investigation into a personnel matter,” Sanders said. “Covell is a veteran employee and is very well-respected.”
Sanders declined to comment on the nature or scope of the investigation.
Covell was also silent of the shakeup.
“This is a very confidential situation,” she said.
Despite the fact that two of the department’s top officials have been placed on administrative leave, Covell said the Probation Department is “in great shape.”
“We have a great team and we’re going in the right direction,” she said.
San Benito County Supervisor Pat Loe said she could not comment on employment status of either Botts or Pierleoni. She also declined to comment on the reasons they were placed on administrative leave.
San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill said he had heard about the administrative changes, but had little information about the reasons for them.
“I don’t know what’s going on over there to tell you the truth,” he said. “We’ve worked well with both of them (Botts and Pierleoni). It’s a shame.”
Supervisor Anthony Botelho said changes at the Probation Department have been ongoing for several weeks. He said the problems would be “straightened out,” but declined further comment given the sensitive nature of personnel matters.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or browland@freelancenews.
com.
