BAKERSFIELD, Calif KBAK/KBFX — Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood sat down for an interview on Wednesday afternoon. He discussed a wide range of topics, including a controversial ruling by a Kern County judge to allow for disgraced former Board of Supervisors Zack Scrivner to enter a mental health diversion program.
Sheriff Youngblood expressed his disappointment in an interview regarding the mental health diversion granted to Scrivner, who was charged with felony abuse after reportedly sexually assaulting one of his children.
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Scrivner is expected to enter court-approved treatment instead of going to trial.
Sheriff Youngblood suggested that the Department of Justice could intervene, stating, “We don’t tell the Attorney General of the State of California what to do.”
FULL INTERVIEW: Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood sat down for an interview with Eyewitness News on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. KBAK/KBFX Photo
Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office also expressed disappointment with the decision and is exploring options.
In the same interview, Sheriff Youngblood discussed Proposition 36, one year after its implementation. He remarked, “Prop 36 is a good law… jail beds in the future.”
Due to limited space in county jails, the sheriff noted that theft suspects are currently being cited and released. Last week, Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer reported that more than 600 theft-related cases have been filed under Prop 36 so far.