\u201cMy office enforces the law without fear or favor,\u201d District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. \u201cLaw enforcement in Santa Clara County must be equally determined to be incorruptible as it is determined to protect our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sung, 54, agreed to complete 400 hours of community service and never again serve as a law enforcement officer in California. After six months of probation and completing community service, the guilty plea will be set aside and the case will be dismissed.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Rick-Sung-481x560.jpg\")
Former Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung. Photo courtesy of Tamara Crepet.<\/p>\n
The plea\u00a0agreement, which one of Sung\u2019s attorneys said originated with the District Attorney\u2019s Office, came shortly before Sung faced a second trial on bribery charges, following a mistrial last year when the jury couldn\u2019t agree on a verdict.<\/p>\n
\u201cProsecutors tried this case once and did not win a conviction,\u201d attorney Tamara Crepet told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cBefore a second trial, they offered Mr. Sung a deal that guaranteed no custody time and ultimately a dismissal of his criminal case. That offer speaks for itself. With an offer like that, Mr. Sung chose to put his family first. They had already been through enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crepet said Sung retired several years ago and is now \u201cfocused on his family and looks forward to finding new ways to serve the community he worked for over 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret Petros, a local advocate for crime victims, has known Sung for 20 years. She said the District Attorney\u2019s Office originated the plea deal, because \u2014 in Petros\u2019 view \u2014 prosecutors realized they had a weak case.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know from experience how District Attorney Jeff Rosen abuses his powers,\u201d Petros, who noted she was speaking on her own behalf rather than for the organization she heads, Mothers Against Murder, told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cHe retaliates against anyone who speaks up against him. He finds a way.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Rosen declined to confirm if the settlement came from the DA\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
While the long-running scandal led to six prosecutions, only one person \u2014 former Capt. James Jensen<\/a> \u2014 served any jail time after receiving a 10-month sentence in 2024.<\/p>\n The DA\u2019s investigation began in late 2018, shortly after longtime Sheriff Laurie Smith won a reelection campaign. Smith and other top officials were alleged to have demanded favors in exchange for granting hard-to-get permits to carry concealed weapons, also known as CCW licenses.<\/p>\n Smith resigned<\/a>\u00a0in October 2022 after 24 years on the job, just three days before a civil grand jury found her guilty<\/a> on six charges of corruption and willful misconduct. Smith did not face any prison time<\/a>, as it wasn\u2019t a criminal trial.<\/p>\n Smith promoted Sung to undersheriff in July 2018 and, according to a July 10 court filing by the DA, was \u201cessentially her campaign manager\u201d that year and \u201cactively solicited endorsements and contributions.\u201d<\/p>\n The DA alleged Sung deliberately held up approval of CCW licenses for the Apple security detail protecting then-CEO Tim Cook and for insurance executive Harpreet Chadha until they did favors for the sheriff.<\/p>\n When Sung first learned of the investigation in August 2019, the DA added, he \u201creset his personal cell phone to factory settings, effectively permanently deleting its contents,\u201d apparently to remove compromising text messages.<\/p>\n Sung is scheduled to appear in Santa Clara County Superior Court on Oct. 19 for sentencing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Santa Clara County Sheriff\u2019s Office is aware of the court proceeding involving a former undersheriff and conduct dating back eight years,\u201d a department spokesperson told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cOur responsibility today is to continue serving our community with integrity, professionalism and accountability. We remain committed to earning the confidence of the community we serve and strengthening public trust in the sheriff\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790535494_332_interactive-321838904008.png\")
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