Generator photo by Dima Solomin on unsplash.com

An employee in the Kings County District Attorney’s office was arrested last week, accused of theft and improper use of government funds and equipment.

Julia Patino, director of the of Kings County District Attorney Victim Witness Program, allegedly took a generator purchased with taxpayer funds for use during personal camping trips in her travel trailer with family, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) announced on Tuesday.

Patino also allegedly used county credit cards for shopping at Costco and Amazon totaling $20,000, according to a KCSO news release.

The allegations came to light in February, when KCSO officials met with new Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker. Authorities said when Hacker took office in January, she conducted informal meetings with staff to build relationships and learn how the office worked.

During one of those meetings, a DA office employee divulged that Patino had taken a generator home for private use. According to KCSO, Patino originally denied having possession of the generator, later recanting that statement and admitting to having it only to run fuel through it.

When Patino returned the generator, it was discovered to have 74 hours of use on the meter. KCSO officials determined that was a high amount when it had never been used for work-related events. It also would not have been available to Kings County crime victims had a mass casualty incident occurred during Patino’s possession and illegal use of it outside the county, according to KCSO.

Patino lives in Visalia.

Detectives also found that Patino allegedly made purchases using a county credit card totaling $20,000 for items that were purchased with her personal Amazon account and delivered to her home.

Witnesses said Patino told a coworker how well the generator worked during a camping trip during the holiday season.

“Many witnesses reported similar behaviors and felt compelled to inform Detectives of Julia Patino’s misuse of government owned property,” according to a KCSO news release.

Detectives have been able to recover some of the items purchased. Missing items that have not been accounted for are 72 boxes of Kleenex, two dog baths, three men’s grooming kits, one six-foot folding bench, six easel pads, five tablecloths and two stainless dog bowls, according to KCSO.

KCSO executed a search warrant at Patino’s Visalia home May 10, after which she was arrested and issued a citation for misappropriating public funds.

The case will be forwarded to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.  KCSO is still seeking witnesses who may have information on this criminal case.  Those with information are encourage to call 559-852-4627.

It’s not the first time Patino has been featured in the news. Back in March the Valley Voice reported that she had filed two complaints that Kings County DA Hacker created a hostile work environment and engaged in retaliation — charges Hacker denied.