I took an “L” in court yesterday, but I can’t help but laugh at the corrupt and incompetent prosecutor after his latest stunt.
In other news, we have a state’s top cop investigating the biography of a mayor on the city’s website. In Oregon, we have a “kiss blowing” controversy and a cautionary tale about AI use and abuse.
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Personal Update: Prosecutor Magically Found Evidence — But Still Hasn’t Shared It
Even though I kept my expectations low, I was still disappointed with the outcome of yesterday’s court hearing. The judge rules against our motions to dismiss based on prosecutorial vindictiveness. It seemed like a very cut and dry set of facts, but once again the judge gave a lot of latitude to the prosecutor.
Ain’t gonna lie — it is discouraging.
However, the judge did reprimand the prosecutor and suggested that he was playing games by “moving the football” with respect to the charges and withholding discovery. My attorney has ordered the transcripts and I will share them when I get them.
2 Dudes, 1 Device
Some of you all may remember the “2 Girls, 1 Cup” viral sensation a good many years back. (NSFW — DO NOT GOOGLE SEARCH).
It appears the prosecutor has a new theory.
Despite telling the judge at the April 7th hearing that he had no evidence of contemporaneous interception of text messages — he has magically found some after talking to two investigators.
We found that interesting because even though he filed 32 additional felonies weeks ago, he has not provided any additional discovery proving contemporaneous interception.
What makes this all so fascinating is that my former boss and I are facing identical charges. Essentially, he is suggesting that we both sat around together and monitored this county owned iPad for hours as the text messages rolled in.
So far — he does not allege that we sipped hot chocolate from the same straw while doing so.
He will not be able to prove that either of us contemporaneously intercepted these text messages — let alone both of us at the same time.
The earliest we will be going to trial on this case is August at this point and I am skeptical that it will happen that soon. For a comprehensive list of all the major documents and filings in my case, go here.
NC: Cary Still Reeling — But Are They Scapegoating Previous Town Manager For All Their Ills?
Personally, I think former Cary town manager Sean Stegall deserves a fair bit of criticism for some of his spending decisions and actions. But, I am starting to feel like he is being scapegoated a bit too much by the mayor and others.
This year’s budget is going to be 13%, or $80 million, higher than last years and they are raising taxes.
‘Breach of trust’: Town of Cary mayor blames former town manager for 2026-2027 fiscal year budget make up
His poor spending decisions on expensive hotels and travel don’t amount to millions of dollars — at least no yet, anyway. A criminal investigation is still ongoing.
OR: It Was Only A Kiss!
A recent Hillsboro City Council meeting was abruptly halted after an audience member accused a councilor of an inappropriate gesture during public comment.
What was the egregious offense?
Councilor Cristian Salgado allegedly blew a dismissive or mocking “kiss” at one of the residents in the audience.
Another councilmember is calling for Salgado’s resignation or censure.
“I did not intentionally blow a kiss to taunt anybody; that is absolutely ridiculous,” Salgado said.
PA: Attorney fined, suspended for ‘egregious’ violation over fake citations generated by AI
This is not a story about a city or county attorney, but a cautionary tale about using AI and not double checking your work.
A Jenkintown attorney has been fined $1,500 and suspended from practice in the U.S. Middle District for six months for use of fictitious citations in a post-trial brief and the inclusion of irrelevant cases and quotations that do not appear in cases cited. This is the second time the attorney has been sanctioned for inappropriate AI usage.
News Around the Country
CA: ‘We are bleeding out’: Arvin City Council warily adopts budget, requests adjustments in coming weeks
FL: Prosecutors dig into Daytona Beach mayor's bio as city probe rolls on
FL: Legal issues mounting against North Miami Beach’s new city manager
GA: Forest Park announces Carl Geffken as sole finalist for city manager position
MI: East Lansing city manager resignation agreement includes $226K payout plus additional year of pension payments
MI: Leelanau County hired an administrator to improve its work culture. He’s now the center of multiple complaints.
MI: St. Johns welcomes new city manager; Todd Campbell served as Clinton County's deputy county administrator since 2020
MI: Webster Township supervisor dramatically resigns in profanity-laced exit
NM: Curry County Manager Pyle has appointed Public Services Director Ben Roberts and Finance Director Troy Hall to assistant county manager positions
NY: Village of Montgomery residents fed up with in-fighting, poor conduct at meetings
OK: After the city manager’s suspension and mayor’s resignation, Bixby’s assistant city manager is out of a job
OR: Flock Safety Suspension Costs Albany $7,000
OR: Woodburn, Oregon’s most Latino city, removes Flock cameras after audit confirms immigration agencies accessed data
PA: New Hope Borough Manager Peter Gray is stepping down in late July to take a job with Bristol Borough
RI: Burrillville Town Manager Michael Wood will retire this October after 30 years serving the town
TX: Alpine City Council terminates city secretary amid drug case
TX: Recent rain gives Corpus Christi a 9-month reprieve on projected water crisis
TX: Galveston County officials seize more than $700k from Hitchcock amid game room investigation
TX: In Shenandoah, Joseph Peart, the director of public works was named to the new assistant city administrator position. Assistant public works director, Raul Porras was promoted to director
TX: City Admin resignation exposes divisions within Surfside Beach government
UT: Utah officials warn of ‘totally unprecedented’ water shortages as towns run dry
Contracts & Compensation
IA: Riverside City Administrator Cole Smith is headed to Granger where he will earn $115,000
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