A former top Fresno County supervisorial staffer pleaded no contest to a conflict of interest charge Thursday and was sentenced to one year of probation and 60 hours of community service, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp announced.
Steven Rapada was serving as chief of staff for Area 5 Supervisor Sal Quintero when investigators learned that he had a personal financial interest and participated in a county-negotiated contract for a project at the old University Medical Center in southeast Fresno.
In addition to serving the sentence of probation and community service, Rapada’s plea forever disqualifies him from holding public office in California. If convicted at trial, he could have been sentenced to up to three years in prison.
Rapada is a former Reedley councilman. He once ran for supervisor himself, finishing fourth in 2014 in the race eventually won by Buddy Mendes.
