Overview
- The Board voted 5-0 on Oct. 14 to oust Corpus effective immediately, with Undersheriff Dan Perea temporarily discharging sheriff duties as the Board weighs an appointment or a special election within 30 days.
- Retired Judge James Emerson, after a 10-day evidentiary hearing, advised removal based on multiple causes including conflicts of interest, an unlawful arrest, and retaliation against subordinates.
- Emerson found Corpus used her office to create and fund roles for close associate Victor Aenlle, ordered union president Carlos Tapia’s arrest without probable cause, and retaliated against Capt. Brian Philip.
- The authority to remove the elected sheriff stems from Measure A, approved by 84% of voters in March, which temporarily grants supervisors power to remove a sheriff for cause.
- Corpus denies wrongdoing and decries the process as unconstitutional, with legal challenges pending and a reported 14-day window to appeal, as advocacy for added oversight such as an inspector general grows.