By Ryan Olson
Chico Enterprise-Record
OROVILLE, Calif. — A Butte County Jail employee appeared in court Monday on charges related to allegedly taking bribes from inmates.
Efrain Mendoza, 34, did not enter an initial plea on 10 counts related to the case, because attorney Jesse Santana filed a demurrer challenging the legitimacy of the charges.
Butte County Superior Court Judge Barbara Roberts set a hearing on the demurrer for Sept. 14 before Judge Robert Glusman.
Officers arrested Mendoza on Friday following an internal affairs investigation into the defendant and his work as a correctional technician, maintaining records for the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program.
SWAP allows qualified inmates to perform community service in lieu of jail time.
In May, a staff member found a discrepancy where Mendoza allegedly credited an inmate for 90 days of community service when the inmate actually worked four. At the time of his arrest, the Butte
County Sheriff’s Office alleged Mendoza falsified records of six inmates since March 2010 in exchange for cash and services, including getting tattoos.
On Monday, Santana also sought to have Mendoza’s bail reduced or to have the defendant released with a promise to return to court.
The attorney noted the non-violent nature of the charges and emphasized Mendoza’s ties to the community and his family.
Santana also said Mendoza is the primary breadwinner for his family.
Roberts questioned how releasing Mendoza would affect his income per county rules, Mendoza was on paid administrative leave until law enforcement finished its investigation.
Santana replied that he had learned the jail was sending Mendoza a termination notice.
If the defendant were released, he would seek work, Santana said.
Prosecutors opposed to releasing Mendoza or lowering his bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the potential violation of the public’s trust.
Roberts declined the requests, but noted that Santana can revisit the issue later.
Mendoza remains in custody with bail set at $150,000.
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