Some of the Southern Humboldt residents swindled by former county building inspector Patrick William McTigue were in court this morning to watch him handcuffed and led away to spend a year behind bars.

This morning Judge Kaleb Cockrum sentenced McTigue to 365 days in jail and two years of formal probation. McTigue must pay restitution to all of his victims and was ordered to stay 100 yards away from them and their properties.

In exchange for McTigue’s plea to three felonies — one count of soliciting a bribe as a public official and two counts of grand theft — the district attorney agreed to drop about a dozen other felony charges involving numerous victims.

Deputy District Attorney Steven Steward said the prosecution’s two main goals were achieved. All victims will be compensated for their losses, and McTigue will never again hold a position of trust.

McTigue bilked people out of thousands of dollars with two scams: He told some people he would expedite their marijuana permits, for a price, and he convinced others to invest large sums in a non-existent marijuana business in Sacramento.

Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo argued against a jail term, saying McTigue has already suffered enough. He is working two jobs and he has agreed to pay restitution, Russo said, and a jail term will mean he’ll lose his employment.

“He’s been publicly shamed, with his story being in the media,” Russo said, “and he’s been ostracized in the community to the point where it’s almost impossible for him to find work.”

Russo pointed out that McTigue, at 50, has no previous criminal record.

Steward responded that McTigue should be jailed, and it should be today.

“Mr. McTigue, who was in the employment of the county, defrauded multiple individuals out of their money over a period of many months,” he said. “He was in a position of trust.”

Steward said jailing McTigue immediately “could serve as a warning to others not to do what he did.”

Not only did McTigue defraud people, some victims told the judge today, he bullied and threatened them as the criminal case proceeded.

Jesse Genaro said that as recently as two months ago, McTigue confronted him at the Ace Hardware store in Fortuna. Genaro said McTigue was his football coach, and he’s known him most of his life. He said McTigue’s crimes were premeditated, and he’s disappointed that more than a dozen felonies were dismissed.

“And then for him to go around threatening me and the other victims for something he did,” Genaro said.

Victim Jeremy Kurtz, who owns a water business, told Cockrum that McTigue came to him one day asking for a pallette of water to donate to kids with cancer. Kurtz said he was more than happy to do that, “only to find out a month later that he was claiming the business was his.”

McTigue sat at the counsel table with Russo this morning, listening to the statements from people he bilked.

“This man,” Kurtz said of McTigue, “is a danger to society.”

Kurtz also said Humboldt County has not taken responsibility for its employee’s crime. He wants restitution to be paid through the county, because he never wants to see McTigue’s name on some “minimal” check.

Victim Timothy Roscoe, who lost $30,000, said McTigue was a longtime friend of his. He feels like McTigue “is getting off scot-free.”

“I believe the DA could have proved all those (felonies).” Roscoe said.

He said McTigue also has threatened him.

“He’s a narcissist and a habitual liar.” Roscoe said. Although he is owed $30,000, “I’d rather see him in jail for a year.”

Roscoe said he sued McTigue in civil court and won, but then McTigue declared bankruptcy and he received nothing.

Lacey Amaral and her husband, Richard Amaral, invested $50,000 in McTigue’s bogus business.

“He lied about everything,” Lacey said. But they trusted McTigue as the county building inspector and gave him the $50,000 “on a handshake and a promise.”

When the Amarals began asking for the written contract McTigue had promised, the threats began. Lacey said she was so fearful of McTigue she stopped taking her young child for walks. She insisted her husband install an expensive home-security system.

McTigue took more than their money, she said.

“He stole peace of mind, trust and faith in people.”

McTigue also made a statement, saying how sorry he was. But he denied making threats.

“I’m a hardworking man and I have absolutely never ever caused anybody any problems,” he said. “I’ve never ever made threats to anyone.”

McTigue said he and his family “have lost everything. I’m willing to do anything to make it right. And again, I am so sorry.”

Cockrum, before he passed sentence, said there was a lot to balance. On one hand, McTigue is 50 years old with no prior record. Then again, there were numerous victims and a large amount of money was involved.

“The most egregious factor is it erodes public trust,” Cockrum said.

There will be hearings scheduled later to discuss restitution.

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