Monterey County DA suspending Brown Act investigation of county supes

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is suspending its Brown Act investigation of the county Board of Supervisors.

The District Attorney’s investigation hinged on the same legal and factual questions presented in a civil suit filed by Save Our Peninsula. That case is still pending in court.

Representatives of the District Attorney’s Office attended all eight court sessions for that case, beginning April 14 through the most recent hearing on June 6.

The end result of those hearings was that a Monterey County Superior Court Judge examined records of several closed sessions and announced that she found no evidence of either a criminal or civil violation of the open meeting laws.

At this point, the law enforcement investigation of the allegations has likewise failed to produce any evidence of a Brown Act violation, prosecutors said.

The investigation could be reopened if anyone comes forward with additional information or if the civil trial, now set for August 26, produces new evidence.