GOLDEN — Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey said he hasn’t decided whether former county Treasurer Mark Paschall will be tried a third time for an alleged kickback scheme.
A jury deadlocked Thursday on whether Paschall solicited the kickback from a top aide shortly before he left office in 2006. A mistrial was declared after the jury deliberated 5 1/2 hours.
The vote for acquittal was 7-5 — with one person wavering on each side. It was the second time a jury could not decide on the charge. In February, a jury found Paschall not guilty of attempted theft and voted 8-4 for acquittal on the charge of compensation for past official behavior.
Jurors said they had concerns about the lack of corroborating evidence and testimony.
“Jefferson County deserves good government,” Storey said. “This is about holding government officials to a higher standard” in their fiduciary responsibility to citizens.
Paschall, 54, was stony-faced and had no comment.
“We just kissed our sister for the second time,” said Paschall’s attorney, David Lane. “I hope it means they’ll see reason and stop the madness.”
Lane added, “It becomes persecution after a point and not prosecution.”
Storey said he doesn’t have a “vendetta” against Paschall, who has been accused of arranging an $18,000 post-tax payment to Kathy Redmond and suggesting three times that she split it with him.
“This is not a personal thing,” Storey said. His office will inform the court Aug. 18 whether the case will be retried.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
