"SHRODE WAS THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT'S HIGHEST-PAID EMPLOYEE, MAKING MORE THAN $254,000 A YEAR. HE HAD BEEN UNDER PUBLIC PRESSURE SINCE AUGUST 2007, AFTER ADMITTING UNDER OATH THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A LAW DEGREE, THOUGH HE HAD CLAIMED ONE ON HIS RESUME. THE COUNTY DID NOT VERIFY HIS DEGREES BEFORE HIRING HIM IN 2005. TWO OF THOSE WHO VOTED TODAY TO DISMISS SHRODE, COMMISSIONER VERONICA ESCOBAR AND COUNTY JUDGE ANTHONY COBOS, PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED HIM. BOTH CAST VOTES ON SHRODE'S BEHALF AFTER THE RESUME CONTROVERSY SURFACED IN AUGUST 2007. COMMISSIONER ANNA PEREZ JOINED THEM IN VOTING TO OUST SHRODE. COMMISSIONER DAN HAGGERTY DISSENTED, VOTING AGAINST THE MOTION TO FIRE SHRODE. COMMISSIONER WILLIE GANDARA JR. WAS ABSENT."
REPORTER MARTY SCHLADEN; EL PASO TIMES;
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BACKGROUND: Richard Nields is on death row having been convicted of killing his girlfriend Patricia Newsome in Springfield Township (just outside Cincinnati). The Supreme Court of Ohio has scheduled his murder for June 10. The Ohio Parole Board hearing was held May 10. The Parole Board issued its report and recommendation on May 18, 2010. By a 4-3 vote, it recommends that the Ted commute the sentence to life without parole. The majority decision was based based in part on Dr. Paul Shrode's faulty forensic testimony at Nield's murder trial in 1997. The ball is now in the Governor's court.
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"EL PASO -- The County Commissioners Court voted 3-1 today to fire Dr. Paul Shrode, the county's chief medical examiner," the El Paso Times story by reporter Marty Schlade, published earlier today, begins under the heading, "County Commissioners vote 3-1 to fire medical examiner Paul Shrode."
"Shrode was the county government's highest-paid employee, making more than $254,000 a year. He had been under public pressure since August 2007, after admitting under oath that he did not have a law degree, though he had claimed one on his resume," the story continues.
The county did not verify his degrees before hiring him in 2005.
Two of those who voted today to dismiss Shrode, Commissioner Veronica Escobar and County Judge Anthony Cobos, previously supported him. Both cast votes on Shrode's behalf after the resume controversy surfaced in August 2007. Commissioner Anna Perez joined them in voting to oust Shrode.
Commissioner Dan Haggerty dissented, voting against the motion to fire Shrode. Commissioner Willie Gandara Jr. was absent.
A lengthy closed meeting by the commissioners preceded their public vote.
At one point, Shrode, 60, entered the closed meeting and briefly spoke to the court. District Attorney Jaime Esparza also talked to the commissioners privately about Shrode. Esparza had been a defender of Shrode's, telling the court in previous meetings that Shrode met state and county qualifications to be medical examiner."
The story can be found at:
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_15150655
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
