A Fresno County Superior Court jury concluded that the city of Fresno's parking manager paid $300 in taxpayer funds to touch an employee's breast, but the boss was acquitted because jurors said he didn't know that and other allegations were wrong. Apparently, at least in these jurors' minds, the city should have a policy that explicitly says bosses can't touch employees' breasts, and then pay for it with city funds. It also has to be spelled out in city policy that managers working for the city can't improperly use city money.
And the rest of us thought that keeping our hands to ourselves and not misusing the boss' money were fairly basic guidelines.
Memo to City Hall: Adopt policy ASAP that forbids managers from using tax money to touch employees' breasts. A policy is also needed to say that employees in finance department can't steal money that comes from utility payments made by city residents and employees in tree maintenance can't steal city chainsaws.
The jury didn't believe former city parking guru Bob Madewell's denial that he didn't accost the employee, according to a juror interviewed by The Bee. But the jury also decided that Madewell didn't have a clue that his actions were wrong, and he shouldn't be found guilty because of that lack of knowledge.
Amazing logic. Madewell sure caught a break by drawing a jury that had the capacity to reach such a conclusion. This oddball verdict was reached Thursday after a two-week trial.
"We believe he did what he did, but the evidence wasn't there that he knew better," a juror told Bee reporter Chris Collins.
So the jurors decided that the manager of the city's parking division, a job that paid him $94,000 a year, didn't know he couldn't touch an employee inappropriately, and have the taxpayers pay for it.
Wow. . . maybe there really are drugs in our drinking water.
As I stated after the Klein verdict, “Fresno needs professional jurors. We, as a community, are not up to the task.”
He didn’t know that it was wrong? He didn’t know it was inappropriate to touch another employee’s breasts because it wasn’t specifically stated in some reg?
Who is the moron who hired this moron? The sheer idiocy of a person hiring such a grossly incompetent, socially retarded perv defies all reason.
I know alot of people who would volunteer to be a juror as opposed to forcing people that dont to do it. Not many working people make only $15 a day. That It is just plain stupid to think he diodn't know it was wrong and that using city funds is anything less than stealing. He is kicking up his hills on this one.
People honestly can not judge what they do not personaly know. Did you see Mr.Madewell fondle her breasts? Did he ever try to hide any of the choices that he has made to pick up the moral in the work environment? Doesn't sounds like it to me. Personaly I believe all the girl wanted was the money and I have no sympathy for her what so ever. The city should have made a therral investigation before hand. It's upsetting to see someone's life turned around on idiotic assumptions.
Another stellar decision by the drivers of Fresno County. When better juries are found they won't be in Fresno. It seems to be obvious that people who hold drivers licenses are not necessarily competent to be jury members. At least from what I have seen in recent decisions.
He was clearly wrong and according to some jurors they agreed that he did it but just apparently didn't think he was bright enough to know right from wrong. Charges should have been brought against the woman too as she accepted money like a prostitute and I believe that is illegal too.
The new employee handbook is gonna have to be 2 feet thick.With pictures!
Your can't expect to get production AND common sense for only $94,000 per year.
Trial results prove that the "dumb and dumber" defense still works. I do not blame the DA's office, as much as those rocket scientists Autry has at City Hall.
Here in Orange Cove they are not even subtle about the abuse of public funds;
[] Victor Lopez bought Oakland Raider tickets on the City credit card.
[] David Lopez (son) just returned from another mini-vaction in Arizona ... Daddy said it was o.k. for him to take an $800+ travel advance to pass out flyers for the Cinco de Mayo car show. And based on reliable source, David was on the clock/payroll at Water Department while in AZ.
[] Bill Little, City Administrator spent over double his authorized amount for his Christian Car Show in July 2007.
... and there is a lot more to share.
So our tax dollars are paying someone $94,000 per year who claims he doesn't know it's wrong to: (a) touch a woman for entertainment value, (b) pay any money for such a thing, and (c) use public money to pay for it. How audacious is this fool to be in a supervisory position, yet not "know" how to behave?
Stupider yet is that there is no policy with any broad (no pun intended) language that can cover this kind of act.
This is the kind of nonsense that is ripping our country to pieces while we sit casually by, observing.