Former Jeffco Treasurer Mark Paschall on Trial Again

The Denver Post reports on Round 2 of former Jeffco Treasurer Mark Paschall's trial for allegedly soliciting a kickback from his former secretary.

For the second time in six months, former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall is on trial for allegedly soliciting a kickback from a former top aide.

Paschall, 54, was acquitted of attempted theft in February. The jury deadlocked on a charge of receiving compensation for past official behavior, and the Jefferson County district attorney's office decided to re-try Paschall on that charge.

In opening statements Tuesday, prosecutor Sean Phillips said Paschall offered an $18,000 bonus to his political appointee, Kathy Redmond, shortly before he left office in late 2006.

Paschall twice solicited Redmond to split the "ridiculous-sized bonus" with him, Phillips said.

Redmond testified in the first trial that she reported the alleged offer to Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Congrove, who notified District Attorney Scott Storey.

Last month, Congrove asked Storey to drop the charge. Storey refused.

Paschall's attorney, David Lane, said the case is about political payback, not a kickback.

"At no time did he solicit a kickback," Lane told jurors.

Congrove and Paschall were political allies from when both served in the state legislature, Lane said.

When Paschall was elected Jefferson County treasurer in 2002, he made Congrove a political appointee in his office.

Lane said a "major blowout" occurred between the two men when Congrove, who was elected commissioner in 2003, became angry when Paschall would not reveal his testimony to a grand jury that was investigating Congrove. The grand jury failed to reach a decision.

I've been walking neighborhoods throughout Jefferson County since January, and people are (justifiably) tired of this nonsense. I'm running for Jefferson County Commissioner to help put a stop to this incestuous culture of corruption that had turned Jeffco government into a veritable circus. We need elected officials who are more interested in the business of running the county than in playing their own political games with each other.

Help me to make this change by voting for Jason Bane in November. In the meantime, please sign up to volunteer, to take a yard sign, or to make a donation at www.JasonBane.org.