Fargo calls for Johnson investigation to be reopened
By Terri Hardy and Dorothy Korber
Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo is calling for the reopening of a police investigation into a Sacramento High School teacher’s report last year that a 17-year-old student told him she was inappropriately touched by Kevin Johnson, then an administrator at the charter school.
He is one of five candidates challenging Fargo in the June 3 election. Johnson’s campaign could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning.
Fargo said she spoke to Police Chief Rick Braziel after reading an article in Tuesday’s Bee. The newspaper reported that a draft legal document indicates Johnson made a $230,000 confidential settlement to a Phoenix teenager who claimed he molested her in 1995.
No charges against Johnson were filed in Phoenix or Sacramento.
Last year, Sacramento police investigators found the allegation was without merit because the girl had recanted. Before police were called in, Johnson’s personal attorney and business partner, Kevin Hiestand, questioned the girl.
The 159-page Phoenix police report included a conversation between Hiestand and the Phoenix 16-year-old’s therapist. The therapist had reported the girl’s allegations to authorities.
Sacramento police officials plan to meet with the Sacramento District Attorney’s office next week to discuss the case, according to spokesman Sgt. Matt Young.
However, Young said the investigation “remains closed,” adding that the meeting was not called because investigators feel it should be reopened, but is in response to “the inordinate amount of public and media interest this investigation has brought.”
“We need to put this behind us,” Young said. “We have legitimate investigations we need to look into. We have homicides … we have domestic violence cases that we need to allocate our time to.”
Previously, police officials said detectives spent one day investigating the initial allegation by the student that Johnson touched her breasts before concluding the story had no merit. They talked to three people: Erik Jones, the teacher who made the initial report; the girl’s mother and the girl. According to Braziel, the girl was “disappointed in behavior at the school” and Johnson comforted her in public view by placing his hand on her shoulders.
Johnson is the most serious challenger to Fargo in the mayoral race. But Fargo said Wednesday that her push to reopen the investigation against him is not politically motivated. She said she is particularly concerned about possible witness tampering.
“Kevin Johnson’s campaign may think that it is, but it’s not true,” she said. “I haven’t discussed these allegations at forums or campaign events, and I don’t plan to. But, as mayor of Sacramento, the 2007 investigation happened on my watch - and I think these questions need to be addressed.”
Tags: Heather Fargo, Kevin Johnson, Sacramento Mayor, Sacramento Mayor Campaign