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1293: Zack Scrivner

Zack Scrivner

Zack Scrivner is a Kevin McCarthy protoge and is a Kern County Supervisor. He is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting his daughter. Police were called to his home by his aunt, the District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer. He is said to have suffered a psychotic break and was armed with a gun. He had been stabbed twice by one of his children, defending another who accused Scriver of sexually assault. His lawyer claims the child stabbed him to prevent him killing himself.

Police found psychedelic mushrooms and thirty guns. They were all seized. His wife got a restraining order barring Scriver from approaching them.

The public has been calling for his resignation and the media is asking why he has not been charged as well as wondering where he has gone. There is speculation that political influence has protected him.

UPDATE: Scrivner was eventually charged and pleaded guilty to felony child abuse. The judge approved his request for a mental health diversion rather than incarceration. His family objects and are supporting a law that limits the use of mental health diversion in some crimes.

Our View: The public deserves answers about - Bakersfield Californian, The (CA) - May 12, 2024 - page B 3
May 12, 2024 | Bakersfield Californian, The (CA) | The Bakersfield Californian | Page B 3
Twenty days have passed since Kern County sheriff's deputies responded to a violent altercation at Kern
County Supervisor Zack Scrivner's Tehachapi home and there still are more questions than answers.
Scrivner's 2nd District constituents — as well as all Kern County residents — deserve answers.
Following is a timeline pieced together from news accounts based on the limited information those involved
have divulged.
Tuesday, April 23, daytime: Scrivner attends a routine meeting of the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
Ironically, considering what happened later that night, Scrivner steps down from the dais and personally
presents to his aunt, District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, a proclamation declaring Crime Victims' Rights Week.
Tuesday, April 23, late evening: Zimmer calls Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood to report Scrivner is
armed and is having a psychotic and possibly suicidal episode — brandishing a gun and possibly affixing it to
his head. She later calls again to say he is no longer armed. Although Scrivner's house is within the city of
Tehachapi, Youngblood directs his county deputies to respond, saying he could send multiple deputies and
he has jurisdiction throughout California. When they arrive, Scrivner is unarmed. He has been stabbed,
allegedly by one of his four minor children. Scrivner is taken to Kern Medical for treatment.
Wednesday, April 24: Kern deputies search Scrivner's house and remove boxes and bags of items. Among
them are 30 firearms, electronic devices, suspected psychedelic mushrooms and evidence.
Thursday, April 25: Youngblood holds a press conference. The sheriff tells reporters Scrivner is accused of
sexually assaulting one of his children and another child reportedly stabbed him twice in an act of sibling
defense. Later that day, Scrivner's attorney, H.A. Sala, insists there is no corroborating evidence of any
assault, only indications that Scrivner was distraught over his pending divorce. Sala says Scrivner was stabbed
by one of his children in a struggle to keep Scrivner from killing himself. Neither the sheriff, nor Sala, provides
information regarding Scrivner's whereabouts.
Wednesday, May 1: Kern County Superior Court Judge Tanya Richard grants Christina Scrivner, Zack Scrivner's
wife of 18 years, a temporary domestic violence restraining order. Christina Scrivner, who filed for divorce in
March, cites the April 23 incident in her declaration, which is largely redacted from public view. The
restraining order requires Zack Scrivner to stay 100 yards away from Christina Scrivner and their four
children.
Thursday, May 2: California Attorney General Rob Bonta agrees to review the allegations againstS crivner
because of DA Zimmer's potential conflict of interest. As of today, May 12, no criminal charges have been
filed. Scrivner's whereabouts still have not been disclosed.
Tuesday, May 7: Scrivner is not present during the board's scheduled meeting. Several members of the public
call for Scrivner's resignation. Fourth District Supervisor David Couch asks County Counsel Margo Raison to
return to the board on May 21 with an explanation of how board vacancies are filled.
Wednesday, May 8: Sala, Scriver's attorney, announces the Kern County supervisor is on a medical leave of
absence. In his three-sentence announcement, Sala says the county's interim chief administrative officer was
notified May 6. He provides no information about Scrivner's whereabouts.
There are many unanswered questions. Where is Zack Scrivner and what are his plans for continuing his
board service? Why wasn't the Tehachapi Police Department involved in the April 23 response? Why was the
case kept in the “county family” beyond the immediate need to respond to Scrivner's Tehachapi home? Is the
investigation being handled as any other similar case would be handled involving someone without Scrivner's
political connections? Despite county officials' insistence that staff members will handle the concerns of
Scrivner's 2nd District constituents, are they thinking about the fact that district does not have a
representative serving them on the board right now?
Scrivner's 2nd District stretches from Frazier Park to east Kern County desert communities. It includes the
cities of Taft and Tehachapi, as well as southern portions of Bakersfield. About one-fifth of Kern's residents
live in Scrivner's district. That's a lot of people who deserve more answers.
Copyright (c) 2024 The Bakersfield Californian, All right reserved.
May 12, 2024 | Bakersfield Californian, The (CA)
Author/Byline: The Bakersfield Californian | Page: B 3 | Section: opinion,our-view

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