Residents and providers urge investigation into Sheriff Mike Boudreaux during Tulare County public comment

Shane Guerrero, a resident of unincorporated Tulare County, told the Board of Supervisors on July 21 that he has long feared the county’s elected sheriff and asked the board to hold Sheriff Mike Boudreaux accountable for what Guerrero described as a pattern of stalking and abuse of power.

"Boudreaux's pattern of conduct is unacceptable," Guerrero said during the public comment period, describing multiple encounters over decades that he said left him fearful and urging other victims to come forward.

Matthew Guerrero, a 33‑year fire veteran and resident of unincorporated Tulare County, also addressed the board and said he and his wife had encountered Michael "Mike" Boudreaux in the late 1980s and later observed conduct they characterized as predatory toward vulnerable people. "To the victims, his conduct has dishonored his badge," Matthew Guerrero said.

Pastor Isabel Vela said she and others have shared reports with county leaders, and that a Child Protective Services report referenced at the meeting was "substantiated" regarding an incident involving a 10‑year‑old child. "We have a sheriff and people in power that have taken an oath to protect and serve," Vela said, urging the board to place the sheriff on administrative leave or otherwise facilitate an investigation.

Alicia Campos said she and other alleged victims have faced threats and intimidation after speaking publicly, and urged the board to "do your part" even if the board’s direct powers are limited.

Board members did not take action during the public comment period; the chair noted that matters presented under public comment cannot be discussed or acted upon at that time under state law. No county official responded to the allegations during the public comment time recorded in the transcript.

Separately, several in‑person commenters representing home‑health and In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers — including Angelita Navarrete, Leticia Garcia and Maria Paredes, who identified themselves as SEIU 2015 members — urged the board to invest more in the county’s IHSS workforce. Maria Paredes said IHSS providers in Tulare County earn "$17.50 an hour" without medical benefits and that the county’s recent bargaining table offer was only a 5‑cent increase; she called the pay "not worth a nickel" for the work of caring for elderly and disabled residents.

The board did not debate or vote on the claims raised during public comment. Chair and county staff reiterated procedural constraints: public comment is the forum to present concerns, but the board may not discuss or act on items not on the agenda at that time. The county’s clerk also reminded residents about options to submit written comments and the public records nature of emailed materials.

The board moved on to its scheduled agenda, including public hearings on delinquent sewer and water fees and presentations on capital projects and investments. The transcript does not record any county response to the allegations during the recorded session; any formal investigation or administrative action would require subsequent steps outside the public comment period.

What’s next: the board did not schedule action as part of the public comment period. Residents who wish to press for formal inquiries or personnel action should consult the county clerk’s office about procedures to request investigations, file complaints, or provide documentary evidence to county counsel or the appropriate investigative authority.