By Deb Murphy
Kenneth Rossy’s attorney appeared at the settlement conference last Friday at the Independence Courthouse, but no settlement was conferred and no trial date set for Rossy and his wife, Dawndee, in the couple’s embezzlement case.
Kenneth Rossy
The Rossy’s were arrested two years ago and charged with 135 counts including embezzlement of $1.5 million from the Inyo County Department of Health and Human Services.
Presiding Judge Phillip Argento granted Kenneth Rossy’s request to release Gerard Harvey from the case. Following a discussion in chambers, Argento explained that efforts were already in motion to replace Harvey. He also set an April 15 date for a counsel status check and a court appearance in Independence on Thursday, April 23 for “an amended complaint and other matters.”
Dawndee Rossy
Following the court appearance, County District Attorney Tom Hardy explained the amended complaint basically was a “cleaning up of the charges” against the Rossys.
The last trial date, Oct. 6, 2014, was vacated when Dawndee Rossy released her lawyer and requested a court-appointed attorney. Late last year, the DA’s office was anticipating a spring trial date.
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Can you tell us what happened last week in court?
Deb Murphy reported: Mammoth Lakes attorney Gerald Mohun will represent Kenneth Rossy when he and his wife Dawndee go to trial on embezzlement charges
While no trial date was set at the Rossy’s most recent court appearance, appointed Judge Phillip Argento expects to pick a date at the next court appearance scheduled for Friday, June 12 in Bishop, according to Inyo County District Attorney Tom Hardy, “probably at a time in the fall.”
The Rossy’s were arrested two years ago on 44 felony counts including the primary charge of embezzling $1.5 million from the Inyo County Department of Health and Human Services where Dawndee Rossy was employed.
I have read all of the above comments and some if not most are correct. Inyo County has
been the good Old Boys for so long that the individuals living here don’t even pay
attention any more. I to think, that someone in the Director’s Office of Health and Human
Services should be answering some charges or at least the loss of her job for letting
this happen on her watch. Inyo Register, dated 8-6-13, She stated, “she takes
responsibility for the alleged embezzlement” yet I see nothing happening to her. If this was
a private business or a corporation, heads would be rolling. I am curious as to why we
have not heard from our Board of Supervisors as to their own investigation. It’s like trying
to shut the barn door after the cows got out. Are our Board of Supervisors doing anything?
Mrs. Rossy is one person. $1.5 million dollars is the amount of the alleged crime.
For someone to say no one was hurt you need to look at what has happened in the offices
of Health and Human Services. Employees are dropping like flies. Not just in the Main St.
office but all of her offices, doesn’t this say something is wrong? If you want a job, that is
the dept. looking for “qualified” help. Check out the county web site and see how many
jobs are open in Health and Human Services.
Kate; And a really good chance of surveillance cameras capturing him allegedly using those welfare debit cards making purchases……if so,OUCH to his defense,if he’s going to plead not guilty…. that is,if this ever does go to trial in his or our lifetime.
ticked- your point is well taken, however your looking at this case as a third party. you knew you were guilty, but you dont know if they are. only they know the truth. which brings up another aspect. why is the Mr. being charged? he did not work for the county. are they charging Mr. Marsh with the same charges as his wife?
According to the paper Mr. was in possession of some welfare debit cards from the county and has used them for purchases. Guess he’s allegedly guilty of spending some of the ill gotten funds. And drug possession.
If Mr. Marsh didn’t work in law enforcement he would have been charged also….plain and simple. Your wife doesn’t come home with a extra 500 grand and not notice, duh.
In our Constitution,and the 6th Amendment,all accused have the right to a speedy-trial,within 6 months of indictment.That’s what I would have done with this one,for a lot of reasons IF I were innocent.But if I was worried I’d be found guilty,what I would probably do is release my lawyer as the trial date neared,and want my new lawyer to extend this on as long as possible.Then,when the date nears again,do it all over again.Fire my lawyer,ask for a new lawyer, causing new delays and new motions, hoping for a plea-bargin,etc.And having less money on hand to be paying back the restitution as well as putting off my time in the Independence Inn.If this actually goes to trial before the end of 2015…..no,2016, it will surprise me.
Who said the Rossys are the ones putting it off! When was the last time you went to court? Their attorney is suspended from practicing the law in California. That is a problem….duh
Maybe it’s just me,but if I were arrested for these crimes and were facing a trial, and I were innocent,I wouldn’t keep dragging it on with these delays,switching attorneys,etc.If I were innocent,I’d not only want to clear my name ASAP,but also want to prove to everyone ,family,friends,neighbors I did not do what I was being accused of,if for nothing else, avoid the embarrassment as well as a prison sentance hanging over my head if found guilty.
OK OK OK I GIVE
all you haters are right. Forget the constitution and your right to a fair trial.
I’m going on the TICKED OFF BIG TIME band wagon!!
You opened my eyes TICKED OFF
This is outrageous!
GUILTY TILL PROVEN OTHERWISE!!!!!!
LOCK EM UP NOW!!!
THANK YOU TICKED OFF. YOU ARE WISE BEYOND YOUR YEARS
When I drove out of that gas station without paying back in 1977,I knew I was wrong. When the CHP officer pulled me over in Lone Pine an hour later, I knew I was wrong. When I had to sit in the back seat of his patrol car,hands cuffed behind me, for an hour in the blistering heat (with no air conditioning), I knew I was wrong. When they got us all to the jail and they mistakingly put me in the FELONY tank by mistake, I knew I was screwed. And when my court date came up a month later, I didn’t deny what I had done. The judge asked me how do I plead and I knew I had done wrong and said “Guilty, your honor”. I got 30 days in the Inyo County jail. The moral to the story…”Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time”.
“Not one person was affected by this crime. Nobody was out any money, everyone still got paid, no programs stopped running, and nobody’s tax liability changed. Now, lets take a look at the money that continues to be spent on their defense. That money happens to be 100% county money…straight from the taxpayers pocket. It appears to me that they don’t really care how they are spending our money. Lets be real people. The county is willing to spend more money to try put these people away than the amount of money that they allegedly took. Wake up Inyo County…they didn’t commit murder…they didn’t rape a child. ”
Hailey, when I read this, my understanding is that you do not feel that these allegations are worth investigating. It reads as if you are defending their actions and instead blaming government for allowing it to occur. It absolutely reads as if you were choosing which laws should be enforced. After all, not one person was affected and they did not commit murder or rape. It was only embezzlement. No biggie.
Ovgurl
All I can say to that is Huh??? You’re embarrassing yourself.
Ticked off bigtime; And on top of that,probably LIVING off that $$$$ right now while they keep getting the trial delayed….What a Country !!!
Kate –
Please Google THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Obviously your not aware of our rights under the
constitution
CAN’T BELIEVE I HAVE TO SAY THIS TO AN ADULT
these are allegations please Google that if you are confused
INNOCENT TILL PROVEN GUILTY
RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL
RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
WHEN AND IF THEY ARE CONVICTED IN A COURT OF LAW
THEY WILL SERVE THERE TIME IN CUSTODY
Maybe Google is only on my computer!
The Law is the Law. And they broke it. Obviously there was enough evidence to go to a trial, so yes, now it is a matter of innocent until proven guilty. But according to your logic we should pick and choose which laws should be enforced? Or tried?
And I find it very disturbing that you find any humor out of this. Your either a formal disgruntled employee or someone who does this sort of thing yourself. After all, you are defending the right to embezzle. Make us wonder?
Call me fruity but I haven’t seen anywhere on here were anyone said it’s ok to embezzle.
What’s funny is people like yourself who read more into something that’s not true
I just believe in our Constitutional rights.
they have plead not guilty and until they either change there plea or go to trial and convicted
these are only allegations.
I have no horse in this race I would be preaching the same thing if you were the alleged defendant.
Just trying to make all of us understand that jumping to conclusions without all the facts is exactly why our founding fathers gave all of us these rights
Your funny cause how I see your response is your a county employee who is trying to say there guilty so you can continue to cover up your bad behavior. Works both ways!
Think before you speak!!!!!!!
It always amazes me how people can ramble on about something, that happens to relate to absolutely nothing that anyone has commented on thus far. Dee, as I read the comment you responded to I have to ask you 3 things: How did you determine that any part of what was said was humor ? Who said anything about picking and choosing the laws that are enforced? And who said anything about defending the right to embezzle? I hate to say it, but our federal government will be proud to know that their efforts on making sure they “KEEP AMERICA DUMB” are really paying off!
Dear High Water Rossy…I’m sure that you’d feel the same if it were YOUR million + that they are ACCUSED of stealing…
Is this the best that the Inyo County district attorney can do? For 2 years these two have been able to live a normal life with no repercussions. Criminals must know that this is the place to commit a crime and have the taxpayers foot the bill while the court system stumbles.
Let me get this straight … The County should be embarrassed to prosecute people that only stole state and federal monies? It is okay for these people to steal but someone suffering from drug addiction that makes off with a few items in an unlocked car should be serving time?
Right on!
Hailey I read your text this morning and all I can say is Bravo!
Everything you said was fact! My faith in people is once again restored. Thank you!!!!
Don’t worry about the haters. Eastside Bum and ticked off are uninformed and funny! Literally made me laugh out loud!!
dear ticked off – if you would Google the word BAILand Read the LAW YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOU CAN NOT POST BAIL WITH ILL GOTTEN FUNDS.
IT’S THE FIRST THING THEY CHECK. IF YOU FIND OUT IM WRONG, PLEASE ADVISE US ALL AND I WILL APPOLOGIZE!
EAST SIDE BUM- if you would fact check what Hailey said and can prove her wrong PLEASE ADVISE. ALL OF US UNINFORMED CITIZENS WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING FROM YOU!
C’mon folks your opinions are allowed this is America. But I think most of us would appreciate facts and truth. But then again you two do make me laugh while I’m enjoying my morning coffee
” It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open and remove all doubt” I believe that was a quote from Mark Twain.
Rossy 1 & 2 I just spilled coffee on my shirt from laughing. DAMN that was funny! I’m going to go take medicine right now. One of my better mornings in a while!!!!
Thanks high water. There are still a few people in this world with some intelligence. I have worked county government for 15 plus years. Ive seen it all. County officials, drawing enormous salaries, the ones that hold a position of trust more so than than any other employee, ensuring the taxpayers that they are working for us……….but in reality working only for their own political gain! They have and will never care about the money…and why? IT’S NOT THEIRS! It is the hard sad truth. We as citizens of the greatest country of them all need to remember that it is always appropriate to question authority and so important to remember to never stop.
Low water…I am aware of the bail system, but I’m also aware there are ways around certain legal procedures. Lawyers are your best friend when you need one, and can be your worst enemy when they’re against you… Judges can do whatever they WANT. If Rossy 1 and 2 are so well off & could afford their extremely high bail, why did they have to STEAL a
1,5000,000.00 ? You’re living in a dream world if you really believe that whatever they put up as collateral to their bondsman wasn’t partially (if not entirely) paid for with stolen cash.
BTW. you must be a family member if you’re not outraged by all of these delays.
I’ve said this before and I’m gonna say it again. They stole (accused of) over a million dollars. WHERE did they get their bail money ??? They both should have been cooling their heels in the county lockup since the day they were arrested. Back in the 70’s, I drove out of a gas station in Bishop without paying (23.00 dollars worth) and I spent more time in jail than these two. I stood tall and took my medicine…why don’y you do the same Rossy 1 and 2 ???
Why do they even bother with this one anymore…really… Usually when this type of thing happens over and over again,it’s a high-priced lawyer hired by either a sports star,a celebrity,or someone with a lot of money able to keep getting delays year after year,or getting off with no charges or conviction anyway.Just the way our judicial system works .With this one,these two really know how to work the system,as the alleged crime indicates.This one is going to keep dragging on and on untill no one really cares anymore.
OK…..as I follow this story I have to ask…Just how much of the taxpayer’s money is the county going to spend to try and convict these folks. The money taken was not county money It is handed down from the state and federal governments. (who steal from every one of us on a daily basis, might I add). All counties are allocated X amount of dollars in order to fund and run government programs. They get it every year no matter what! Not one person was affected by this crime. Nobody was out any money, everyone still got paid, no programs stopped running, and nobody’s tax liability changed. Now, lets take a look at the money that continues to be spent on their defense. That money happens to be 100% county money…straight from the taxpayers pocket. It appears to me that they don’t really care how they are spending our money. Lets be real people. The county is willing to spend more money to try put these people away than the amount of money that they allegedly took. Wake up Inyo County…they didn’t commit murder…they didn’t rape a child. It sickens me to think that those who are supposedly in charge of protecting our tax dollars are the very ones who carelessly and freely spend our money and for what? To make a statement out of a couple people in order to save embarrassment to the county? The county should be embarrassed. Instead of spending mass amounts of money to convict them maybe they should spend some money investigating administrators and department heads….where were they when all this was going on? What might be uncovered if an audit was conducted on all county departments? Wait…shouldn’t that have happened automatically when this all came to light? It is my understanding that it would be the duty of any RESPONSIBLE administrator or department head to want to know exactly what’s going on…..everywhere. Oh but that might cause some problems for the “Good Ol Boys” and we wouldn’t want to do that. So I guess I should just say to all the citizens of Inyo County “Go back to sleep and pretend everything is ok.” Its been that way for years. This county is full of fraud and abuse…and it starts at the top!!. Anyone that believes otherwise is a fool.
You stated “nobody was out any money”, and “not one person was affected by this crime”. I strongly disagree, and so do the taxpayers & and law abiding citizens of California & The United States.
You may disagree till the cows come home. A fact is a fact. Plain and simple. You should be disgusted with the appointed officials who are running your county.
“cuckoos nest cuckoos nest”
You two are just delaying your prison time which is where both of you are going to end up. Heck if you had plead guilty you could already have served about 2 years of your sentence.
theyre going to die of old age first
JEEEEZ, MAN!