Tape has former official asking aide for kickback

Ex-Jeffco treasurer indicted on two felony charges

Charley Able, Rocky Mountain News

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

GOLDEN - Former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall is heard on tape apparently soliciting a kickback from a top aide who alerted authorities after she said Paschall persisted in going through with a scheme to pocket $9,000.

A transcript of the conversation recorded by Jefferson County investigators is part of a grand jury indictment released Monday charging Paschall with two felonies that could send him to prison for up to three years.

Paschall, a fiscal conservative elected on a promise to keep an eye on taxpayers' dollars, was defeated in a bid for a second term in last year's Republican primary.

He could not be reached for comment.

During his last remaining days in office, Paschall authorized a $25,000 bonus for Kathy Redmond, his administrative coordinator and longtime associate.

Paschall told Redmond that the bonus would amount to $18,000 after taxes and he expected her to give him half, according to the indictment.

Redmond told Paschall she wanted "no part of his offer" and warned he would be criticized for paying her a bonus that amounted to almost half her annual salary, the indictment said.

"Paschall replied that he did not care" and later that day started the paperwork for Redmond to receive the bonus, the indictment continues.

Redmond told County Commissioner Jim Congrove about Paschall's actions. Congrove and Redmond then contacted the district attorney's office.

Paschall and Redmond talked of the bonus again several days later during a phone conversation recorded without his knowledge.

"Okay. I see. So a third going to taxes, then the third to me and the third to you," Redmond said to Paschall, according to the transcript

"Right," Paschall responded.

The indictment charges Paschall with attempted felony theft, a class 5 felony, and "compensation for past official behavior," a class 6 felony.

Paschall, 52, was booked and posted his $1,000 bond Monday afternoon, a DA's office spokeswoman said. His first court appearance, an advisement hearing, is scheduled for Feb. 12 at 8 a.m.

"These are serious allegations, and Mr. Paschall must be treated as we would any other citizen," District Attorney Scott Storey said in a written statement.

Paschall hired Redmond in one of three patronage appointments he made when he took office in 2003.

The bonus he offered Redmond amounted to nearly half of the $50,000 in bonuses Paschall doled out as he was leaving office in December.

"The indictment speaks for itself and the legal process will obviously move forward," Redmond said Monday. "It is amazing to me that even after this, people will continue to vote to fund bigger, more intrusive government to run their lives for them."

Paschall was ousted from the $75,500-a-year job when he lost the August Republican primary to former county Clerk and Recorder Faye Griffin.

Paschall gained a reputation as a maverick who quickly found himself at odds with county commissioners and others.

Paschall wanted the county to provide him a Cadillac Escalade, saying he could get a deal on the auction Web site eBay, or a fully outfitted Honda Pilot complete with rear-view camera and towing package. He wound up with the Chevy Trailblazer usually provided to elected officials.

Paschall also requested an office makeover that would have cost more than $175,000. A fully equipped wellness/exercise center for Paschall's employees was included in the makeover that Paschall said was intended to increase office security.

During his first year in office, Paschall worked 132 days, putting in an average of 5.2 hours each day he worked. His job attendance rate was the lowest among all elected Jefferson County officials.

The players

• MARK PASCHALL

Age: 52

Colorado resident: 46 years

Family: Wife, Kathy; sons, Brian, Steven and Sean

Education: 1972 graduate, Littleton High School

College: Bachelor's degree, Metropolitan State College of Denver; master's degree, Colorado School of Mines

Military: Navy, 1976-1980

Job history: 12 years in insurance industry, including property claims, workers compensation underwriting, loss control, regional marketing manager.

Public office: State representative, District 29, four terms; Jefferson County treasurer, one term, January 2003-December 2006

• KATHY REDMOND

Age: 33

Colorado resident: 23 years

Family: Son, Adam, age 6

Education: 1991 graduate, Columbine High School

College: Bachelor's degree, University of Nebraska; master's degree, University of Colorado

Most recent job: Administrative coordinator, Jefferson County Treasurer's Office

Previous job: Colorado state legislature, House communications director

The conversation

This is a transcript of a telephone conversation between Mark Paschall and Kathy Redmond. The conversation was recorded by investigators without Paschall's knowledge and is part of the two-count grand jury indictment:

• Redmond: Then what was Fred's (another employee who received a bonus) listed as?

• Paschall: Fred's is listed as a severance, uh for, and for finished work. For a finished project. He is different.

• Redmond: Okay. But you didn't make any deal with Fred though, right?

• Paschall: Oh, heck no. No.

• Redmond: So he wasn't, you didn't talk to him about splitting anything, either?

• Paschall: No, no, no, no, no.

• Redmond: (clears throat)

• Paschall: Okay. No, and that is absolutely the last thing that you should ever say, but, but, but your question about the taxes, the reason why it was eighteen?

• Redmond: Mm-hm (affirmative response).

• Paschall: I figured a third for taxes.

• Redmond: Uh-huh (affirmative response).

• Paschall: And, you know, and then, then there would be you - you it actually won't probably be a third, but I just figured a third, and then a third, and a third. You know?

• Redmond: Okay, I see. So a third going to taxes, then the third to me and the third to you.

• Paschall: Right.