El Dorado County Supervisors Hold Off on Action Concerning Ray Nutting

On May 14th, El Dorado County Supervisor Ray Nutting was found guilty on six misdemeanors involving illegal and undocumented loans from county employees and a county contractor.

Nutting was found not guilty on three felony charges including filing false documents, perjury and approving conflict-of-interest contracts.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors met with legal counsel Wednesday to discuss whether Supervisor Ray Nutting was suspended from the office of county supervisor by operation of law because of jury verdicts on May 14, 2014 that found him guilty of six misdemeanors.

The Board decided that it did not want to influence the judge’s decision at the sentencing scheduled for June 6, 2014 at which time Judge Timothy Buckley will decide whether or not the misdemeanor convictions result in Supervisor Nutting’s removal from office under Government code sections 1770 (h).

The Board also did not want to take any formal actions that could be subject it to later legal challenges if the judge decides that Supervisor Nutting was automatically suspended on May 14. The day’s Board agenda was limited to a few presentations and ceremonial items.

The Board continued all other items scheduled for today to its meeting on June 10, 2014 and cancelled the June 3, 2014 meeting.

The Board of Supervisors also directed legal counsel to file papers with the Superior Court requesting the Judge Buckley let the Board of Supervisors know promptly whether the convictions in People v. Nutting result in a suspension or vacancy pursuant to Government Code sections 1770, 1770.2 and 1771