Police officer faces battery charge

CHICO >> A Chico State University police officer was charged with misdemeanor battery after an altercation with a Santa Cruz motel employee in November, according to a criminal complaint filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.

According to the complaint, which was obtained by the Santa Cruz Sentinel and the Chico Enterprise-Record, Travis Lawler, a sergeant with the Chico State University Police Department, was arrested on Nov. 19 for “willfully and unlawfully” using force and violence on an employee of Santa Cruz’s Sea and Sand Inn.

Lawler is a native of Ben Lomond.

Lawler is due back in court March 12. Lawler, who is being represented by attorney William M. Clark of the Sacramento law firm Mastagni Holstedt, filed a motion Feb. 11 to be considered for a diversion program, since it was a first offense. In California, there are three different types of diversion programs: one for low-level misdemeanors or drug charges, one for those dealing with a mental health disorder and one for current or former members of the military. Criminal charges can be dropped if several

conditions are completed. Conditions can include drug or alcohol treatment, educational classes and restitution.

Carlos Barba, a Santa Cruz County assistant district attorney, is handling Lawler’s case.

“We are going to object to the diversion,” Barba told the Enterprise-Record.

Barba said he couldn’t share specific details about the incident since the case is still ongoing. The case is presided by Superior Court Judge Stephen Siegel.

Lawler was off duty when the incident occurred and his personal firearm was confiscated by the Santa Cruz Police Department. The firearm was not brandished or used to threaten and Lawler cooperated with law enforcement, according to court documents. According to his lawyer in a letter written to Santa Cruz District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell, Lawler was placed on administrative leave from Chico State. Clark also writes that he is representing Lawler “in his pending CSU Chico administrative disciplinary case.”

Sean Murphy, media relations coordinator for Chico State, said the university can not comment on personnel matters.

Lawler, 45, has been with the Chico State Police Department for 25 years and had previously worked for the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. Lawler has lived in Paradise for more than 20 years. Lawler had also served in the Marine Corps.

Background

According to court documents, on Nov. 19, Lawler was staying at the Sea and Sand Inn with his wife to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Lawler allegedly pushed a motel clerk during a dispute about the lack of response for a problem in his motel room.

In a letter signed by Lawler written to the motel employee and the alleged victim, Lawler apologized for “putting you in a situation you did not deserve to be in.”

Lawler wrote that his family had lost their Paradise home of 20 years in the Camp Fire of 2018 and that his life had changed drastically. Those changes include moving more than four times, living with other families and their children’s lives being “turned upside down.”

In the letter, Lawler went on to say that he “tried to push everything down and remain strong for my family. Every day since has been a struggle and the anger slowly built up.”

Lawler also added that he and his wife had started a donation drive for victims of the CZU Lightning Complex fire that happened in Santa Cruz County.

While staying in Santa Cruz, Lawler and his wife wanted to decompress so they had a few drinks to “leave our worries behind,” the letter reads.

“I had way too much to drink and when the hot tub didn’t keep its temperature, everything I had pushed down for so long caught up to me,” Lawler wrote.

Lawler concludes the letter by saying he had never addressed his own resentment and anger after the Camp Fire but has returned going to church regularly.

A letter written by Lawler’s wife Tiffany to Judge Siegel also states that it was the couple’s first getaway since the fire. They had ordered dinner and were planning to enjoy the evening in the hot tub with a view. Tiffany Lawler also wrote “We drank more than we normally do.”

“I think the extra alcohol played a part in that fateful evening,” Tiffany Lawler wrote. “My husband’s actions that night was 100% out of character. He is very regretful and would give anything to change it.”

Diversion program

Court documents show that Clark, Lawler’s defense attorney, contacted the Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Office about participation in the Neighborhood Court Program. Those eligible for the Neighborhood Court program are interviewed by other citizens as part of a panel.

According to Clark, program coordinator Elaine Johnson deemed Lawler acceptable and he was scheduled to appear in front of a panel on Dec. 10.

However, Clark states that because Lawler is a police officer, “he was not going to be permitted to participate in the Neighborhood Court program.” On Dec. 3, Lawler was told he was no longer eligible.

Steve Drottar, a Santa Cruz County assistant district attorney, is also named in the case.

“After a thorough evaluation of the case, the evidence, defendant’s behavior, and victim input it was determined this was not a suitable case (for neighborhood court),” Drottar wrote in an email.

Clark has appealed the decision to exclude Lawler from the Neighborhood Court program twice, the second time on Dec. 17. Clark’s filing states he did not receive a response and on Jan. 5, Lawler was charged.

In Clark’s written request to reconsider Lawler for the Neighborhood Court program, he states that Drottar’s reasoning for not allowing Lawler into Neighborhood Court was because video evidence of the confrontation was “pretty bad” and since Lawler was intoxicated and a police officer, he was not fit for the program.

Clark wrote that since Lawler hasn’t had any prior convictions and has never been on parole or probation, he should be deemed eligible for Neighborhood Court.

“This is not a case requiring a mandatory jail sentence … The extent of force used was not excessive nor aggravated,” Clark wrote.

Clark suggested the conditions for the diversion program be: attend and successfully complete an anger management course, pay restitution if an amount can be determined, complete 32 hours of volunteer service in or near his county of residence, pay a $200 diversion restitution fee and be placed on diversion for three months to complete the conditions.

Lawler completed an eight-hour anger management course on Jan. 12.

A superior court judge could decide if Lawler can be placed in a diversion program despite the district attorney’s objection. If Lawler is allowed into a diversion program, he’ll need to complete certain conditions. If those conditions are fulfilled, then the charges would be dropped.

“If they don’t complete those tasks, then the criminal proceedings get reinstated and we’ll continue with prosecution,” said Barba, the assistant district attorney.

Jessica York of the Santa Cruz Sentinel contributed to this report.