Sheriff Moore’s record of child molesting, drug dealing, gun running, gang affiliated, and inmate raping subordinates

December 28, 2017

By Frank Gayaldo

Editor’s note: While doing research for this story, we discovered a male deputy had recently been secretly placed on administrative leave for having felonious sex with a female inmate. See that story from yesterday here:

The majority of sheriff employees are dedicated professionals who are not suspected of committing felonies. But there are some definite outliers, including Sheriff Moore himself.

The Sheriff has been personally accused of so many criminal acts, by so many different accusers, it is difficult for the public to wrap their mind around it all. Sheriff Moore’s personal list of alleged transgressions includes public embezzlement, perjury, obstruction of justice, gun running, destroying computer evidence, destroying physical evidence, lying to victim families, and the latest: authorizing the practice of medicine without a license on corpses.

The growing list of accusers against Sheriff Moore includes law enforcement professionals from five different law enforcement agencies. Moore maintains his innocence, while DA Tori Verber Salazar is so far maintaining control of all criminal investigations dealing with the Sheriff. This is in spite the irrefutable fact that she was personally involved in some of the activities in question. Sources within the county tell us Salazar’s refusal to recuse herself is disconcerting to say the least.

The Board of Supervisors solution to this myriad of scandals? Tell the public they will “explore” separating the Sheriff from the Coroner’s Office. Despite multiple protests, the Board has so far refused to demand that the FBI and State Attorney intervene. Sources from deep inside the county are claiming at least two of the most prominent Board members are aware of the outrage on social media, but are not moved “by the loud noise of a few” and remain confident the average voter “couldn’t care less about any of this”. The county views an outside investigation as “potentially catastrophic” with “no upside”.

This last March, DA Tori Verber Salazar admitted Sheriff Moore stripped, sold and then ultimately purchased back guns of “unknown histories and origins” at “substantial discounts”. Salazar said this practice is “of concern” and “should stop”, but inexplicably alleges this was “not illegal”. Salazar failed to acknowledge her office was also receiving discounts from the very same Bay Area gun dealer Moore was using to fence revolvers, semi automatic and fully automotive weapons through. ( Just for the record, 1090 of the Government Code and public embezzlement are clearly illegal. The DA’s below letter clearly memorizes Sheriff activity that is blatantly against the law.)

Moore has refused to comment on what “best practices” he will implement to address this situation until Salazar issues her “final report” which after over six years, has yet to have been released.

2015 Sheriff interoffice memos have since surfaced that suggest Moore is staging another 1000 confiscated guns for sale. Salazar and Moore refuse to comment on this. These same memos suggests loose drugs, not in evidence envelopes, are being improperly stored in gun lockers. (The Grand Jury never asked 209 Times for these documents while conducting their “extensive investigation” into EvidenceGate, but we will happily supply them if they would just ask. Sadly we can’t even get them to return an email.)

Moore is not alone in getting into legal trouble. As we approach the New Year, here are a few news stories about various San Joaquin County Sheriff Moore’s subordinates either convicted of, or suspected of child molesting, drug dealing and/or gun running in just the last couple years alone. We know from multiple sources this is not a complete list….

April 12, 2017

http://www.recordnet.com/news/20170413/sj-jail-officer-caught-in-gang-sweep-aimed-at-crips

“San Joaquin County Correctional Officer Ashley Ezella Johnson, 31, was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on Wednesday on suspicion of the sale or transportation of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics for sale, conspiracy and gang charges.”

Dec 18, 2015

http://www.recordnet.com/article/20151218/NEWS/151219690

“STOCKTON — A former San Joaquin County correctional officer was sentenced recently to 52 months in state prison after pleading guilty to molesting a female relative from the time she was 5 years old.”

December 16, 2015

http://www.recordnet.com/article/20151216/NEWS/151219760

“A criminal complaint will soon be filed in Madera County against a San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputy whose wife has been charged with murder and torture in the death of their 12-year-old adopted daughter, authorities said.

Deputy Gerardo Flores, an 11-year veteran of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, has been placed on administrative leave, said Deputy Les Garcia, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office. Flores could face further administrative action if he is charged with a crime, Garcia said.

October 15, 2015”

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/eight-men-indicted-manufacturing-and-dealing-ar-15-type-rifles-and-silencers-without

“Daniel Bennett, 39, of Stockton, and David Bennett, 27, of Stockton, are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and deal firearms without a license.  At the time he was manufacturing firearms, David Bennett worked as a San Joaquin County Sheriff correctional officer.”

And what has the top law enforcement agent of San Joaquin County has to say about all of this?

“We’re extremely disheartened anyone in the Sheriff’s Office would be involved in criminal activity,” Moore said at a news conference held by the Police Department . “We do extensive vetting and background checks of every applicant we consider. Unfortunately, we are all human beings, and sometimes human beings make poor choices.” (Bowers, The Record, April 13,2017).