WASHINGTON STATE

 EXECUTIVE ETHICS BOARD

November 8, 2024

Regular Meeting Minutes

 

A.   Preliminary Business

1.    Roll Call

The regular meeting of the Washington State Executive Ethics Board (Board) was called to order by Vice Chair Megan Abel at 9:00 a.m.  In attendance were Chair Kelli Hooke and Members Jan Jutte, Cam Comfort and David Hankins. Board staff in attendance included:  Executive Director Kate Reynolds, Senior Counsel Matt Kernutt, Assistant Attorney General Julia Eisentrout, Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant, and Senior Digital Forensic Investigator Justin Cotte.

 

2.    Approval of Agenda

Executive Director Kate Reynolds requested that the Western Washington University policy be removed from the agenda.

 

Motion 24-063 Moved by Member Hankins, seconded by Member Jutte:

 

The Board approved the November 8, 2024, agenda as amended.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

3.    Approval of the September 13, 2024, Meeting Minutes

 

Motion 24-064 Moved by Member Jutte, seconded by Member Hankins:

 

The Board approved the September 13, 2024, minutes as presented.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

B.   Enforcement Matters

Stipulation

EEB Case 2023-019 (De La Cruz)

Senior Digital Forensic Investigator Justin Cotte briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Reyes De La Cruz, former Unemployment Insurance Specialist 4 with the Employment Security Department. Reyes De La Cruz agreed that they may have violated several sections of the Ethics in Public Service Act.  Evidence indicated that Reyes De La Cruz filed illegitimate claims for themselves, family, friends and acquaintances resulting in approximately $360,000 worth of fraudulent claims. The order imposes a civil penalty of $15,000.

 

EEB Case 2023-049 (Carver)

Justin Cotte also briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Enrico Carver, Corrections and Custody Officer 2 with the Department of Corrections. Enrico Carver agreed that they may have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act by using state resources for personal benefit.  Evidence indicated that Enrico Carver browsed the internet visiting numerous news websites, ESPN and YouTube. The order imposes a civil penalty of $500 with $200 suspended.

 

EEB Case 023-054 (Schillreff)

Justin Cotte briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Julie Schillreff, Teacher Education Instructor with Yakima Valley College. Julie Schillreff agreed that they may have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act by receiving compensation for outside activities. Evidence indicated that Julie Schillreff used their state computer to conduct work related to their outside employment. The order imposes a civil penalty of $300.

 

EEB Case 2023-061 (Ochoa)

Justin Cotte also briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Oscar Ochoa, former Social Service Specialist 5 with the Department of Social and Health Services. Oscar Ochoa agreed that they may have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act by using their state email account for personal use, to include communication with their spouse, insurance company and to make personal purchases. Evidence also indicated that Oscar Ochoa made several unnecessary referrals which resulted in a cost to the state. The order imposes a civil penalty of $750.

 

EEB Case 2023-066 (Plassman)

Justin Cotte also briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of David Plassman, former Social Service Specialist 2, with the Department of Social and Health Services. David Plassman agreed that they may have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act by using their state cell phone to make over 1,300 personal calls which resulted in overage fees to the state. The order imposes a civil penalty of $1,500.

Executive Director Dismissal

 

Kate Reynolds summarized an Executive Director Dismissal in EEB Case 2023-073 (Wax).

 

The Board deferred action on the enforcement matters until after their closed session.

 

C.   Staff Reports

Kate Reynolds reported that the Senior Digital Forensic Investigator position has been filled and they will start in February.

D.   Public Comment/Board Member Comment

No public or Board Member comments were given.

E.   Closed Session

At 9:21 am the Board moved into Closed Session. 

At 10:30 am the Board returned to regular session and reported the following:

 

Motion 24-065 Moved by Member Jutte, seconded by Member Hankins:

 

The Board approved the Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2022-019 Reyes De La Cruz, imposing a civil penalty of $15,000.

 

Voting For:  Chair Hooke, and Members Jutte, Comfort and Hankins.

Not Voting:  Vice Chair Abel

 

The motion passed.

 

Motion 24-066 Moved by Member Hooke, seconded by Member Jutte:

 

The Board approved the Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-049 Enrico Carver, imposing a civil penalty of $500 with $200 suspended.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-067 Moved by Member Hankins, seconded by Chair Hooke:

 

The Board approved the Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-054 Julie Schillreff, imposing a civil penalty of $300.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-068 Moved by Vice Chair Abel, seconded by Chair Hooke:

 

The Board approved the Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-061 Oscar Ochoa, imposing a civil penalty of $750.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-069 Moved by Member Jutte, seconded by Vice Chair Abel:

 

The Board approved the Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-066 David Plassman, imposing a civil penalty of $1,500.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-070 Moved by Member Abel, seconded by Member Hankins:

 

The Board found Reasonable Cause of $500 or less in EEB Case 2023-071 Daryl Hamilton-Manier.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-071 Moved by Member Jutte, seconded by Vice Chair Abel:

 

The Board found Reasonable Cause of $500 or less in EEB Case 2023-074 Diamante Muhammad.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-072 Moved by Chair Hooke, seconded by Member Comfort:

 

The Board determined any violation that may have occurred does not constitute a material violation because it was inadvertent and minor, or has been cured, and, after consideration of all of the circumstances, further proceedings would not serve the purposes of this chapter and dismissed EEB Case 2023-075 Bill Norberg.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Motion 24-073 Moved by Vice Chair Abel, seconded by Member Jutte:

 

The Board found Reasonable Cause of $500 or less in EEB Case 2023-076 Kurt Lupinski.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-074 Moved by Member Hankins, seconded by Chair Hooke:

 

The Board found Reasonable Cause of $500 or less in EEB Case 2023-077 Fred Krepps.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-075 Moved by Vice Chair Abel, seconded by Member Hankins:

 

The Board found Reasonable Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2023-078 Lloyd Bookter.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-076 Moved by Member Jutte, seconded by Member Hankins:

 

The Board found Reasonable Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2023-079 Richard Lember.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 24-077 Moved by Member Comfort, seconded by Member Jutte:

 

The Board found Reasonable Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2023-080 Robert Whitham.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

F.    Miscellaneous Matters/Adjournment

There were no miscellaneous matters and the meeting was adjourned at 10:44 a.m.

 

Approved by the Board 1/10/25