GOLDEN — Former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall believes that justice finally has been done after Jeffco District Attorney Scott Storey decided not to prosecute him a third time for an alleged kickback scheme, Paschall’s attorney said Tuesday.
“Poor Mark,” defense attorney David Lane said. “He’s front-page news. He’s indicted. His picture is on TV and in the papers in convict clothing. Now, he’s completely vindicated.”
Storey announced Monday that he would not take a case against Paschall to trial again after two separate juries were deadlocked on a charge of compensation for past official behavior.
Paschall was indicted in December for allegedly soliciting a kickback from a top aide shortly before he left office in 2006.
He was accused of arranging an $18,000 after-tax bonus for Kathy Redmond, who was his political appointee, and asking her to split the money with him although compensation of elected county officials is set by state law.
Redmond notified Jeffco Commissioner Jim Congrove, who contacted the district attorney’s office. The bonus was never paid.
Lane argued at trial that Congrove was trying to get back at Paschall, who did not tell Congrove about testimony before a grand jury investigating Congrove.
In February, a jury found Paschall not guilty of attempted theft and voted 8-4 for acquittal on the compensation charge.
On July 31, a second jury voted 7-5 for acquittal. Jurors said they had concerns about the lack of corroborating evidence and testimony.
“While I continue to believe that elected officials should be held to a high standard of conduct and that the trials were justified based upon the evidence, I do not feel that pursuing this case further is appropriate, considering that 15 out of 24 jurors voted to acquit Mark Paschall,” Storey said.
Lane said Storey made the correct decision. “In two trials, he had nine jurors on his side,” Lane said of Storey. “Mark Paschall should never have been charged in the first place.”
The legal maneuverings have taken “a tremendous emotional toll on Mark,” Lane said. “It’s been an ordeal for him and an eye-opener to the justice system.”
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
