GOLDEN — A top aide to former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall testified this morning that it was his idea to give her a bonus and collect half for himself.
“I’d like you to give me half” Kathy Redmond recalled Paschall saying.
“I didn’t want it. The offer to me was unethical,” she testified.
Paschall was indicted in January 2007 on one count of felony theft and receiving compensation for past official behavior.
The grand jury accused Paschall of offering Redmond, his political appointee and communications director, a $25,000 bonus and demanding that she pay him half of the $18,000 post-tax proceeds.
Today Redmond testified that when she told Paschall that if the media found out he would be criticized, Paschall replied, “I don’t care.”
Redmond said she took her concerns to Commissioner Jim Congrove, who told her he stopped the bonus check.
The case was referred to the district attorney’s office, which advised Redmond to tape conversations with Paschall.
Some of that material was played in court this morning.
As the long-delayed trial finally began Tuesday, Paschall’s attorney, David Lane, said the two felony charges against his client were based “on politics and payback” from Congrove.
Lane painted a picture of Congrove being angry that Paschall, his friend and ally, would not break his secrecy oath and tell him what he told a grand jury probing Congrove’s alleged misuse of county resources.
Congrove denied the allegations and the grand jury later could not reach a decision.
The two had a falling out over Paschall’s refusal to reveal testimony, Lane said, adding, “Congrove hates Mark Paschall with an undying passion.”
Congrove pressured the new treasurer, Faye Griffin, to hire Redmond for four months so she could find work after her mentor, Paschall, left office, Lane said.
Paschall recommended Redmond receive one-third of her annual salary as severance, Lane said. But, he said, Redmond wanted the amount as a bonus so she could collect it and unemployment pay.
Congrove urged Redmond to set up Paschall on tape, Lane said, adding, “Not one penny of taxpayer dollars left the county bank and went to Mark Paschall.”
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
