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Some disturbing allegations coming out of the Fresno County Public Administrator’s office. Fresno County District Attorney Lisa A. Smittcamp said on Thursday that three employees with the department are being investigated for allegedly stealing property from the homes of people who have died.
A public administrator is in charged of going to a deceased person’s property and taking inventory of their belongings.
"The public administrator is charged with investigating and administering the estates of deceased citizens whose estates are not administered by any other party or family member. A part of these duties includes conducting an inventory of items in the estate after the decedent has passed away," said Smittcamp.
Smittcamp said at the start of this year, the Public Administrator’s office merged with the District Attorney’s office. The Public Administrator’s office had been under the same office as the County Coroner, but about a year and half ago, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted to dissolve the Coroner’s Public Administrator’s office, and move the Coroner over to the Sheriff’s Office, and have the Public Administrator’s office merge with the District Attorney’s. It was after that merger, Smittcamp said, when the DA’s office uncovered what she called "egregious and unacceptable behavior."
Smittcamp said there were four employees in the Public Administrator’s office, and she believes 3 out of the 4 were involved in this allegation of theft. Smittcamp did not identify the employees on Thursday. All three employees were placed on administrative leave on May 28, but Smittcamp said now two no longer work for the county.
Smittcamp said the investigation is ongoing, therefore she will could not elaborate on what the employees are alleged of taking, or how much the value is.
She said, "We are currently attempting to determine the number of estates affected and the amount of loss to those estates."
"At the conclusion of the criminal investigation, the case will be referred to another county agency for the possible filing of criminal charges and prosecution," stated Smittcamp.
The DA said her office is working on restructuring the Public Administrator’s office so that this kind of "breach of trust" never happens again.
She said, "It is the most disturbing thing that has happened to me since I’ve been sworn in. It is absolutely unacceptable to me as a citizen, as an elected official and as the district attorney of this county. I am disgusted by this behavior and I will not tolerate it and I will not allow it to continue."
Smittcamp is urging anyone who believes they may be affected by these allegations to contact the Public Administrator at 559-600-2115 or 855-600-6595.
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