Sheriff: Kern supervisor accused of sex assault against his own child
Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner faces accusations — but no formal charges, as of Thursday — that he sexually assaulted one of his children before another stabbed him twice in an act of sibling defense at the family’s home Tuesday in Tehachapi.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Sheriff Donny Youngblood offered reporters a lean timeline of events: Deputies late Tuesday night responded to a psychotic, possibly suicidal Scrivner, who, amid his episode, brandished a firearm at the home and “possibly” fixed it to his head. Scrivner was taken to Kern Medical for treatment of his non-life-threatening stab wounds.
Scrivner has not been booked into jail and there was no word Thursday on his whereabouts.
“I wouldn’t be standing up here if I didn’t believe something occurred,” Youngblood said. “We’re going to conduct a proper, thorough investigation so we can give definitive answers.”
A lawyer hired to defend him said in a subsequent news conference there was no corroborated evidence of any assault, only indications that Scrivner was so distraught over his pending divorce case that one of his children stabbed him during a struggle to keep the county supervisor from killing himself.
“Scrivner is a dedicated father who loves his children,” attorney H.A.
Sala told reporters. “He would never do anything to harm his children.”
The dueling narratives came one day after images of deputies carrying ammo cans and bags out of the Scrivner home Wednesday fueled rampant speculation. Rumors spread in the absence of word from Scrivner, or authorities, about what prompted the law enforcement presence.
This week’s events have shaken one of the county’s most prominent political dynasties. Scrivner has served in public office for two decades; his mother and wife have been elected to public office. His aunt is county District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer.
Youngblood said he was contacted late Tuesday by an “emotional and
worried” Zimmer, who he said told him about a psychotic episode involving her nephew having a firearm. She later called back to say he had been disarmed but that he was “still having an episode.”
Not until after deputies arrived was there any suspicion a crime had taken place, Youngblood said.
“Deputies responded to the residence in Tehachapi to a report that Supervisor Scrivner was armed and suicidal,” Youngblood said. “Upon arrival, deputies secured the firearm and started their investigation.”
The sheriff said he did not know where Scrivner was as of Thursday — that he thought he knew but was unsure.
Because of Zimmer’s relation to Scrivner, Youngblood said the state Attorney General’s Office and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office have been contacted about carrying forward the investigation and considering criminal charges.
Zimmer’s office, and county government, have declined to speak about the case.
Youngblood said an emergency protective order has been put in place barring Scrivner from contact with his children.
Deputies seized about 30 firearms from the Scrivner residence, the sheriff said, along with electronics and a small amount of psychedelic mushrooms. He added that forensic tests have been ordered but no results have been returned.
Youngblood said he chose to put the KCSO in charge of Tuesday night’s response at the Scrivner residence, instead of leaving it to the Tehachapi Police Department, because he was able to muster a larger group of personnel. The sheriff added that Tehachapi’s police chief has since told Youngblood he “would have handed it to us anyway because of the complexity of the case.”
Youngblood declined Thursday to offer any details on the alleged sexual assault, for the sake of the minor involved, but said that he understood Scrivner’s four children were fine physically. He noted all of the children were at the house Tuesday night, as were Scrivner’s parents.
Sala, seated in his office on H Street in Bakersfield, accused Youngblood of publicizing accusations without conducting a full investigation. As a public servant who “has done so much for this community,” he said, Scrivner “deserves better.”
The county supervisor was possibly suicidal, Sala said, and at any rate, there was no physical altercation other than the struggle to disarm him. At no point, he said, did Scrivner brandish a weapon with intent to hurt anyone else.
The alleged sexual assault never took place, Sala said.
“We have a reasonable basis to believe and conclude that that (sexual assault) allegation is absolutely not reliable,” he said. “It’s not true, did not occur.”
Sala brushed off the report of firearms and electronics being seized, calling it routine action by law enforcement. He added that he knew but could not say where Scrivner was Thursday, and that the family is distraught because of the public attention on the week’s events.
“This is what happens when allegations that have not been fully vetted or investigated get out there,” he said.
“Folks need to walk it back a little bit and keep an open mind and not jump to conclusions and assumptions about what happened,” Sala said.
Scrivner is serving his fourth term on the Kern County Board of Supervisors as representative of the 2nd District, which includes Tehachapi and parts of southern Kern. His current term ends in January 2027.
A statement issued by board Chairman David Couch after Youngblood’s news conference said: “The Kern County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference (Thursday) about Second District Supervisor Zack Scrivner. Because this is an ongoing Sheriff’s Office investigation it is inappropriate for County officials or staff to comment. All questions for comments or requests for information should be directed to the Sheriff’s Office.
“As always, our employees will continue to provide the vital quality of life services our residents expect and deserve.”
Prior to joining the board in 2010, Scrivner served as a Bakersfield city councilman for six years, elected in 2004 and 2006 to represent Ward 7. He previously served as district director for former state Sen. Jean Fuller from 2006 to 2010 and, before that, as a field representative for then-Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy from 2002 to 2006.
Scrivner’s wife, mother and aunt have been involved in various corners of Kern County politics, from school boards to Tehachapi City Council to county prosecutor.
His wife, Christina Scrivner, resigned from the Tehachapi City Council in December 2022 after she was elected to the Kern Community College District’s board of trustees.
At the Crime Victims’ March on Thursday, Zimmer did not comment on the allegations, asking that discussion be kept to the march.
The Scrivners have four children and have made their home in Tehachapi. Last month, Christina Scrivner filed for divorce from her husband in Kern County Superior Court.