BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Another secret motion has been filed in former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner’s child abuse case.
This time, by the State Attorney General’s Office Scrivner’s attorney had previously filed a request for a mental health diversion. A hearing for that and other matters on the case was set for Thursday, but was postponed.
Scrivner’s case was called right at 8:30 a.m, and after a six minute meeting in the judge’s chambers, Judge Gloria Cannon granted the motion to postpone. We don’t know why the prosecutor asked for the delay because his motion has been sealed by the court and kept secret from the public.
It’s been nine months since former county Supervisor Zack Scrivner’s arraignment on felony charges of child cruelty weapons possession. That was the last time we saw Scrivner in court.
In September, Scrivner’s defense attorney H.A. Sala filed a motion aimed at preventing Scrivner from spending even a day in jail. It seeks mental health diversion instead of jail or prison time.
It was immediately sealed by the judge at Sala’s request keeping the public in the dark about what it says.
For the motion to be successful, the judge must find Scrivner is suffering from a mental disorder and that if he receives treatment he will respond positively.
In the charging documents, Scrivner was accused of taking psychedelic mushrooms, getting into bed with and molesting a minor on April 23, 2024.
He wasn’t charged with any sex crimes.
If he had been charged with sex crimes, he would be inelligable for mental health diversion.
AG Prosecutor Joseph Penney’s motion to postpone has been made secret, so we don’t know why he needs months to respond. Neither Sala or Penney are talking.
The hearing was rescheduled in Superior Court on the morning of Dec. 15.
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