BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) introduced three bills on Thursday to address \u201csystemic failures\u201d in the prosecution of sex criminals who have political connections, dubbing it the \u201cLords of Bakersfield\u201d Package.<\/p>\n
The package comes as a response to recent cases like Jeffrey Epstein and former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner, according to a press release from Bains\u2019 office on Thursday. It also highlights the rumored history of corruption in Kern County.<\/p>\n
US District Attorney\u2019s visit to Kern County prompts Bains to call for further scrutiny into Zack Scrivner case <\/a><\/p>\n The Lords of Bakersfield<\/a> is a dark 50-year-old legend involving a half-dozen local men of wealth, power and influence who allegedly seduced much-younger runaways, drug addicts and prostitutes \u2014 most of them young men, some of them teens. And inevitably, someone \u2014 usually the older man \u2014 ended up dead.<\/p>\n According to the release, the package is designed to target the abuse of mental health diversion programs, end immunity deals for accomplices and require the rapid prosecution of elected officials investigated for alleged sex crimes against children.<\/p>\n \u201cFor too long, the wealthy, the politically connected, and the powerful have played by a completely different set of rules in our justice system,\u201d said Bains, who is running for California\u2019s 22nd Congressional District<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are watching mental health diversion be weaponized to shield abusers, while loopholes protect the accomplices of monsters like Jeffrey Epstein. The dark history of the \u2018Lords of Bakersfield\u2019 shows us that these abuses of power are deeply entrenched, and they have gone on for far too long. This package is about ensuring that no amount of money, status, or political influence can buy a get-out-of-jail-free card.\u201d<\/p>\n Scrivner, who was charged with three counts of child cruelty and two counts of illegally possessing an assault rifle, was granted mental health diversion<\/a> in December. It allows his case to be dismissed if he meets all program requirements.<\/p>\n The Attorney General\u2019s Office never charged Scrivner with a sex offense, although he is accused of touching his minor child. He would have been ineligible for the diversion if he was charged with a sex crime.<\/p>\n The AG\u2019s Office has submitted a petition<\/a> challenging Scrivner\u2019s mental health diversion.<\/p>\n