Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

10 hours ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

11 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

14 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Senate Bill Would Destroy Jobs and Harm US

14 hours ago

Israel Strikes Pound Gaza, Killing 60, Ahead of US Talks on Ceasefire

16 hours ago

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

16 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

3 days ago
Fresno Council President Charged with Felony Over Alleged Extortion
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
July 18, 2022

Share

 

Fresno City Council President Nelson Esparza has been charged with a felony count of attempted extortion, the Fresno County District Attorney’s office announced Monday.

Esparza, 31, is accused of threatening the employment of former City Attorney Douglas Sloan in April. In allegations made by fellow city councilman Garry Bredefeld — and corroborated publicly by Sloan — Esparza allegedly told the city attorney to work only for a majority of four councilmembers, or face termination.

Sloan left for a city attorney job in Santa Monica weeks later.

Council President Nelson Esparza is going to continue to focus on the issues that matter the most to District 7 and the City of Fresno: more infrastructure, more housing, public safety, and economic development. He looks forward to the forthcoming process and proving his innocence,” Esparza spokesman Michael Trujillo said in an email Monday afternoon.

Esparza Faces Two Counts

In addition to the attempted extortion charge (Penal Code 524), Esparza also faces one count of violating the Fresno City Charter, listed as Sec. 803. That section defines the role of the city attorney, particularly to “Represent and advise the Council and all city officers in all matters of law pertaining to their offices.”

The District Attorney says Esparza could face up to three years in state prison and fines.

It is unclear if Esparza was formally arrested. As of 1:10 p.m., his name did not appear on the Fresno County jail log or released inmate list.

A Fresno County Superior Court docket indicates an arrest warrant was reviewed and issued, but later recalled. Esparza posted a bond. His arraignment date is set for Sept. 20 in front of Judge Jon Kapetan.

Voters re-elected Esparza last month to a second, four-year term. A provision of the city charter could remove Esparza from office if he “is convicted of a felony or of an offense involving a violation of his or her duties.”

[Note: an earlier version of this story indicated that Esparza could face up to one year for each count. The District Attorney’s office clarified that the way the law is written, it does mean up to three years.]

Bredefeld: “Not Easy to Expose”

Bredefeld, long a critic of Esparza and other councilmembers, publicly accused Esparza of extortion during a May 13 news conference.

Speaking to the media that day, Bredefeld alleged that Esparza told Sloan not to do any work for three members of the seven-member council. If any of the three — Bredefeld, Mike Karbassi, and Luis Chavez — requested work, Sloan should report that to Esparza, according to Bredefeld. Failure to follow his orders, Esparza allegedly said, would result in the city attorney’s firing, Bredefeld alleged.

Esparza immediately denied the allegations and sued Bredefeld for defamation. After learning that the city would have to pay for Bredefeld’s legal defense, Esparza dropped his lawsuit.

“It was not easy to expose the attempted extortion of City Attorney Doug Sloan by Nelson Esparza, and of course, I knew when I did I’d be attacked and was even sued because I did expose,” Bredefeld said in an email on Monday.

“Now after a thorough investigation by the District Attorney, charges including a felony have been filed against Mr. Esparza. I believe in the Constitution, due process, and look forward to justice and there being accountability for what occurred,” Bredefeld said.

In a court filing during the defamation suit, Esparza told his side of the story:

“Esparza informed Mr. Sloan that, in his assessment, several Councilmembers were displeased with the fact that his City Attorney’s office had been weaponized for partisan purposes by Councilmember Garry Bredefeld. Plaintiff further informed Mr. Sloan that he was not presently inclined to vote for termination but that, as a voting member of the Council he wanted to have reassurances that the previous night’s resolution would be complied with and abided by. At no time did plaintiff Esparza direct, order, imply or suggest to Mr. Sloan that he should work only for ‘the majority’ of the Council or only for any certain Councilmembers to the exclusion of any others,” the filing states.

Dyer: Concerning News

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer released a statement Monday afternoon.

“This type of concerning news can cause the community to lose confidence in its government and question the integrity of public officials,” Dyer said in a news release. “I want to reassure the public that we in city government will continue to do all we can to maintain their trust and confidence by delivering on the promises we have made to them.”

Read the Felony Complaint

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

DON'T MISS

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

DON'T MISS

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

DON'T MISS

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

DON'T MISS

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

DON'T MISS

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

UP NEXT

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

UP NEXT

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

UP NEXT

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

UP NEXT

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

UP NEXT

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

UP NEXT

Fresno Fire Destroys Home Under Construction, Displaces Six

UP NEXT

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

8 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

8 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

8 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

9 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

9 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

9 hours ago

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

9 hours ago

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

9 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

9 hours ago

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

10 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

The Clovis Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk missing adult last seen on Thursday. Pathmani Goonawarde...

7 hours ago

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
7 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

fresno
7 hours ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

8 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., October 26, 2023. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

The Blanca Fire, burning 12 acres northwest of Lake Madera Country Estates in Madera County, remains active with 0% containment and no reported injuries or structural damage as the cause is under investigation as of Monday, June 30, 2025. (CalFire)
8 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

Fresno County CHP arrested two on Interstate 5 after finding about one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a loaded ghost gun, and counterfeit money during a vehicle search on Sunday, June 29, 2025. (CHP)
9 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

Gov. Newsom warns Californians to celebrate the Fourth of July safely, emphasizing zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which have surged to over 600,000 pounds seized this year. (Shutterstock)
9 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend