GOLDEN — A jury holds the fate of former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall, who has been charged with soliciting a kickback from a top aide.
During a closing statement Thursday afternoon, prosecutors argued that Paschall asked Kathy Redmond for half of an arranged payment of $18,000 because he lost in a re-election bid, had financial pressures or faced leaving office in December 2006 without a job.
Paschall, who two former state lawmakers testified was a man of integrity, found his principles failed and “he acted with greed to line his own pockets,” said prosecutor Sean Clifford.
Paschall was indicted in January 2007 on one count of felony theft and receiving compensation for past official behavior.
On the stand Thursday, Paschall denied he tried to solicit a kickback and said he never suggested Redmond give him half the money.
He said he may have made “flippant” remarks to Redmond when she asked what she should do with the money, including one comment that she could give some to him.
Paschall said he was trying to help Redmond by arranging for her to receive four months’ pay as severance.
Paschall’s attorney, David Lane, said Paschall was set up in a political payback from Commissioner Jim Congrove, who was angry that Paschall wouldn’t reveal his testimony to a grand jury that was investigating Congrove.
In an odd twist, Lane told Judge Randall Arp that a Breckenridge woman sent him an e-mail that said Daril Cinquanta, a private investigator who has worked for Jefferson County, “stashed” a whistle-blower named Redmond in her mountain condo in early 2007.
Lane said he knew Redmond didn’t pay for the condo and doubted Cinquanta did, adding he was concerned if “county funds are being spent on a witness.”
Arp said he didn’t have the authority to order the district attorney’s office to investigate.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
