Attorney General Lockyer Files Charges Against Orange County Sheriff's Department Captain For Soliciting Political Contributions

Tuesday, September 6, 2005
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

(SANTA ANA) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer announced that his office today filed a misdemeanor criminal complaint in the Orange County Superior Court charging Orange County Sheriff’s Department Captain Christine Murray with sixteen (16) counts of violating California Government Code section 3205, which makes it a misdemeanor for an officer or employee of a local government agency to solicit political contributions from other employees of that local agency.

The complaint charges that between May 14 and 15, 2005, Murray contacted sixteen (16) different Captains, Lieutenants and civilian Directors within the Sheriff’s Department and solicited a campaign contribution. Although not mentioned in the complaint itself, the campaign contributions solicited were for Sheriff Mike Carona’s reelection campaign.

The Attorney General accepted the case for investigation and prosecution after allegations were raised and initially investigated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and reported to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The Orange County District Attorney asked the Attorney General to investigate the matter because of the nature of the allegations and high-ranking officers involved.

A charge of violating Government Code section 3205 carries a punishment of up to six (6) months in county jail, or a fine not exceeding $1000, or both.

Murray’s arraignment on the charges will occur in the Orange County Superior Court, Department 54, on Tuesday, September 28 at 8:30 a.m.

The case was investigated by the Attorney General’s California Bureau of Investigation, Investigative Services Team, San Diego, and will be prosecuted by Senior Assistant Attorney General Gary W. Schons of the Criminal Division, Appeals, Writs & Trials Section, San Diego.

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PDF icon Christine Murray Complaint379.27 KB
PDF icon Christine Murray Complaint379.27 KB