GOLDEN — For the second time in six months, former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall is on trial for allegedly soliciting a kickback from a former top aide.
Paschall, 54, was acquitted of attempted theft in February. The jury deadlocked on a charge of receiving compensation for past official behavior, and the Jefferson County district attorney’s office decided to re-try Paschall on that charge.
In opening statements Tuesday, prosecutor Sean Phillips said Paschall offered an $18,000 bonus to his political appointee, Kathy Redmond, shortly before he left office in late 2006.
Paschall twice solicited Redmond to split the “ridiculous-sized bonus” with him, Phillips said.
Redmond testified in the first trial that she reported the alleged offer to Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Congrove, who notified District Attorney Scott Storey.
Last month, Congrove asked Storey to drop the charge. Storey refused.
Paschall’s attorney, David Lane, said the case is about political payback, not a kickback.
“At no time did he solicit a kickback,” Lane told jurors.
Congrove and Paschall were political allies from when both served in the state legislature, Lane said.
When Paschall was elected Jefferson County treasurer in 2002, he made Congrove a political appointee in his office.
Lane said a “major blowout” occurred between the two men when Congrove, who was elected commissioner in 2003, became angry when Paschall would not reveal his testimony to a grand jury that was investigating Congrove. The grand jury failed to reach a decision.
Paschall was attempting to help Redmond by arranging for her to receive four months’ pay as severance, Lane said.
Redmond is expected to testify today.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
