Scrivner’s wife granted temporary restraining order for herself and children
The wife of Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner was granted sole custody of their children under a temporary restraining order approved Wednesday following accusations Scrivner sexually abused one of his children last week.
Scrivner is now required to stay 100 yards away from Christina Scrivner, his wife of 18 years who filed for divorce in March. The order also requires him to stay 100 yards away from all four of their minor children based on allegations Scrivner has been emotionally or physically abusive to his family.
The restraining order gave Christina Scrivner permission to record phone calls between her and her husband, which in California normally requires the consent of all parties. She requested child support and asked that her husband be required to attend a batterer intervention program.
Where the form requests details of abuse, it states “please see the declaration of Christina Scrivner.” A five-page statement submitted by Christina Scrivner is part of the request for the restraining order, but most of it has been redacted.
According to the request, the abuse occurred April 23 with all four of the Scrivner children present and involving two firearms. That same night, Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer called Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, who told reporters last week he sent deputies to Scrivner’s home in Tehachapi.
Zimmer, who is Zack Scrivner’s aunt, reportedly called the sheriff out of concern her nephew was experiencing a psychotic and possibly suicidal episode. In a press conference April 25, Youngblood said Scrivner is suspected of sexually assaulting one of his children, prompting another child to stab him in an act of sibling defense.
There has been no word on where the four children are living since Kern County sheriff’s deputies entered Scrivner’s house on April 24 and removed boxes from the property. Youngblood said 30 firearms, electronics and a small quantity of suspected psychedelic mushrooms were removed from the home. According to the request for a restraining order, the supervisor has access to additional firearms in a Bakersfield home.
Following Youngblood’s press conference, Zack Scrivner’s defense attorney, H.A. Sala, denied the accusations of sexual abuse. Sala said the stabbing happened in an attempt to get Scrivner to relinquish a firearm that he threatened to use to kill himself.
Zack Scrivner was taken to Kern Medical to receive treatment for non-life-threatening stab wounds, Youngblood said. But as of Friday, it is unclear where Scrivner is staying. He has not been booked into KCSO custody, according to the agency’s website.
Due to Zimmer’s relationship to Scrivner, the Kern DA’s office will not handle Scrivner’s criminal case, if one is filed. In an email to The Californian on Thursday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Office confirmed that it will review the case. As of Friday, no charges have been filed against Scrivner.
The only related court date set as of Friday is a May 22 hearing for a mediation appointment and order to show proof of domestic violence in the Scrivners’ divorce case.