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ADMINISTRATION
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Requested Action(s)
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a) AGREEMENTS - Request approval and authorization for the Chairman to sign the Agreement for Defense of Indigent Persons with the following attorneys for the purpose of providing public defender legal services to indigent persons in Tehama County Courts for a three-year period of 1/1/26 through 12/31/28
1. Christopher R. Logan - Juvenile Delinquency, Felony and Misdemeanor Appointments in the amount of:
$242,400 per annum for the time period of 1/1/26 through 12/31/26;
$242,400 per annum for the time period of 1/1/27 through 12/31/27;
$244,824 per annum for the time period of 1/1/28 through 12/31/28;
2. Odeh E. Hijazeen - Felony and Misdemeanor Appointments in the amount of:
$222,200 per annum for the time period of 1/1/26 through 12/31/26;
$222,200 per annum for the time period of 1/1/27 through 12/31/27;
$224,422 per annum for the time period of 1/1/28 through 12/31/28;
3. Alessio C. Larrabee - Felony and Misdemeanor Appointments in the amount of:
$222,200 per annum for the time period of 1/1/26 through 12/31/26;
$222,200 per annum for the time period of 1/1/27 through 12/31/27;
$224,422 per annum for the time period of 1/1/28 through 12/31/28;
4. Anu Chopra - Juvenile Delinquency, Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS), Drug Court, Felony and Misdemeanor Conflicts in the amount of:
$104,686.64 per annum for the time period of 1/1/26 through 12/31/26;
$104,686.64 per annum for the time period of 1/1/27 through 12/31/27;
$105,733.51 per annum for the time period of 1/1/28 through 12/31/28;
5. Kenneth A. Miller - Felony and Misdemeanor Conflicts in the amount of:
$53,076.01 per annum for the time period of 1/1/26 through 12/31/26;
$53,076.01 per annum for the time period of 1/1/27 through 12/31/27;
$53,606.77 per annum for the time period of 1/1/28 through 12/31/28;
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Financial Impact:
Funding has been appropriated for services that are a County responsibility in Public Defender, budget unit 2026-53230, is sufficient for the services that are a County responsibility. The total annual cost for the first year is $844,562.65, the total for the second year is $844,562.65, and the total for the third year is $853,008.28.
Background Information:
The County is legally obligated to provide public defender services for indigent criminal defendants and certain other persons appearing in the Tehama County Courts. County Administration has collaborated with the Superior Court in successful negotiations of these agreements. The negotiation is necessary as the responsibilities to assign and appoint fall within the jurisdiction of the Courts, while the financial jurisdiction falls on the County. In Tehama County, these services are provided by contract with private attorneys, rather than through a centralized Public Defender’s office. Under Penal Code section 987.2, subdivision (b) and Phillips v. Seely (1974) 43 Cal.App.3d 104, such contracts may be approved by either the Board of Supervisors or the Superior Court. The Board has been executing these types of agreements since 2011 due to changes in the Court’s contracting practices.
These agreements will collectively provide the full scope of public defender representation services from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, for a three-year term. The compensation and terms are generally similar to the prior agreements. The public defenders are receiving a 1% increase for year one, 0% increase in year two, and 1% increase for the third year.