Regional board members ask Humboldt County supervisors to press prosecutor over unpaid restitution

Representatives from a regional board asked the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors at a public meeting to press the county attorney to pursue enforcement of a court judgment in which a former board member was ordered to pay restitution.

Speakers said the group received a civil judgment, have been paid only part of it, and that repeated attempts to collect privately and through the county attorney have not produced results. “We’ve tried everything … we just can’t get it moved,” one regional representative said during public comment, urging supervisors to help prompt action from the county attorney.

The speakers said the judgment required weekly payments but payments have been sporadic for years. They described hiring attorneys and a private investigator and said county-level criminal enforcement (contempt of court) was the recommended next step but service attempts have failed and county attorneys have not pursued further action. “If she’s not going to be held accountable, she’s not going to pay,” a speaker said, calling for the county attorney to file contempt charges if proper service can be effected.

Supervisors agreed to put the issue on an upcoming agenda and said they would attempt to arrange a public meeting with the county attorney so board members and regional representatives could ask questions directly. A supervisor cautioned that the county attorney is an elected official and the board cannot direct prosecution, but said a public meeting to seek answers and push for action would be a starting point. County staff (Trish) was asked to notify the group when that meeting is scheduled.

Why this matters: speakers said public and grant dollars were at stake and that the unpaid restitution affects multiple local governments and boards that rely on accountability for public funds. The group asked supervisors to use their convening authority to get the county attorney to respond and, if necessary, to raise public awareness so elected officials can be asked to act.

Speakers listed at the meeting, the actions they requested, and next steps are summarized below.

Quotes from the record include: “We’ve made pretty much every attempt we can, and it’s gone on for a really long time,” and “If the board could help push the county attorney to be able to help us in some way, shape, or form to be able to get something from her, I mean, just not paying isn’t good enough.”

The supervisors did not promise legal action; they scheduled the matter for a future meeting and said they will invite the county attorney to attend. The supervisors noted that as an elected official the county attorney cannot be ordered by the board, but the board can request a public meeting and press for follow-through.

Ending: County staff will notify the regional representatives when the special or regular meeting is scheduled; the supervisors said they will try to secure answers at that meeting and asked regional representatives to provide any outstanding documentation to the county attorney’s office ahead of that session.