Kickback trial set to begin for ex-Jeffco official Paschall

Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News

Monday, October 15, 2007

Jefferson County's controversial former treasurer Mark Paschall is expected to go on trial this week on charges related to an alleged kickback scheme.

The former state lawmaker faces two felony charges for allegedly asking a top aide last year to give him a $9,000 cut of a $25,000 bonus he had approved. Paschall, 53, was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury in January.

District Judge Randall Arp has imposed a gag order. Defense attorney David Lane has asked for a change of venue, contending that Paschall can't get a fair trial in Jefferson County because of "massive, pervasive and prejudicial publicity."

In his motion, Lane said Paschall was "frequently a lightning rod for various positions which drew a great deal of media attention. He was very outspoken in his beliefs, and as such he had many friends and many enemies."

Prosecutors said they are confident an impartial jury can be empaneled. The judge will rule on that motion after the attorneys question jurors.

Kathy Redmond, a longtime acquaintance whom Paschall hired as his administrative coordinator in 2003, alerted authorities after she said he tried to get her to go along with the kickback scheme.

Redmond and other county officials will be witnesses at the trial, which is expected to conclude by the end of the week.

The evidence includes a taped conversation in which Paschall appears to have solicited the money. In the tape, 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 that 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.

Redmond's bonus was nearly half of $50,000 in bonuses Paschall doled out as he left office.

A fiscal conservative who promised to keep an eye on taxpayer dollars, Paschall was defeated for a second term in August 2006.

Paschall gained a reputation as a maverick who soon found himself at odds with county commissioners and others. Unsatisfied with the Chevy TrailBlazer the county provides to elected officials, Paschall lobbied for the county to give him a Cadillac Escalade or a fully loaded Honda Pilot.

During his first year in office, Paschall worked 132 days, with an average of 5.2 hours each day he worked. His job attendance rate was the lowest among all elected county officials. Before becoming Jefferson County treasurer, Paschall served four terms in the state legislature.

lindsays@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5181