DA won't bring extortion charges against former town manager

"The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office will not bring charges against former Woodside Town Manager Jason Ledbetter after he demanded $400,000 to keep secret a report with allegations against council members, the DA said yesterday. Ledbetter, in an interview with the DA's office, said he had no intention of extorting the town for money and believed he was negotiating his severance, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. This led to the DA's office deciding not to charge Ledbetter with any crime, Wagstaffe said."

"The town strongly disagrees with the DA's decision not to charge Ledbetter with any crime, said attorney Richard Bolanos, who is representing the town. Ledbetter alleged in a letter he sent to council on Feb. 17 that he was manipulated to stop subsidized housing projects and that two council members made disparaging, racist and sexist remarks about others on council. The town hired attorney David Stallard to look into Ledbetter's allegations and he was only able to substantiate one - that Vice Mayor Paul Goeld violated what's known as the Brown Act, the state's open meeting law, by telling Ledbetter about his hiring process."

"Wagstaffe said his office will not prosecute Goeld's Brown Act violation because there is no crime. He will leave it to the town to determine how they want to address the violation, Wagstaffe said. The town is currently determining if any corrective action is warranted, Bolanos said. Goeld admitted during his interview with Stallard to telling Ledbetter about his hiring process, Stallard wrote."

The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office decided not to bring charges against former Woodside Town Manager Jason Ledbetter after he demanded $400,000 to keep secret a report containing allegations about council members. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Ledbetter claimed he was negotiating severance and had no intention of extorting the town. The town’s attorney Richard Bolanos said the town disagrees with the decision. Ledbetter alleged he was manipulated to stop subsidized housing projects and that two council members made disparaging, racist, and sexist remarks. An investigation by attorney David Stallard substantiated one allegation: Vice Mayor Paul Goeld violated the Brown Act by telling Ledbetter about his hiring process. Wagstaffe said there is no crime to prosecute for the Brown Act violation, leaving corrective action to the town.

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