July 18, 2008 11:26 PM UTC

Congrove asked Jeffco DA NOT to prosecute Paschall?

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• by: JeffcoBlue

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Really odd, since embattled ex-Jeffco treasueer Mark Paschall’s defense in the first trial was that Congrove set him up. Did Jim Congrove decide persecuting Paschall was more of a liability than it was worth? Have they made peace (doubtful)? Or is something else even worse going on? Columbine Courier:

Paschall, who was acquitted of a charge of attempted theft in February during the first trial, still faces a charge of compensation for past official behavior for allegedly offering Kathy Redmond, one of his two political appointees, an $18,000 post-tax bonus on the condition she give him half.

The alleged offer to Redmond reportedly came in the waning days of Paschall’s job as county treasurer in December 2006. Redmond then reported the alleged offer to County Commissioner Jim Congrove, who notified Jeffco District Attorney Scott Storey.

Paschall was originally charged with two felonies, criminal attempted theft and compensation for past official behavior. He will be retried on the second charge after the first jury was unable to reach a verdict on it.

In a strange twist, Congrove called Storey recently and urged him to drop the charges against Paschall.

“I have talked to him about not prosecuting that,” Congrove said in a phone interview July 15. “It serves no purpose. It does nothing for the community.”

Congrove’s opposition to the upcoming trial stands in stark contrast to the fact that he initiated the investigation into Paschall. In addition, Congrove said after the first trial that Paschall’s attorney used “smoke and mirrors” to get him acquitted.

Congrove was on the prosecution’s witness list during the first trial in February but did not testify. Paschall’s defense attorney said the charges against his client were “political payback” by Congrove…