One of two former Riverside County Superior Court clerks who mishandled privileged information connected to a criminal case received a sentence without any punitive measures, it was confirmed Wednesday.
The case against Angela Franz, 48, of Thousand Palms was officially closed Monday when Riverside County Superior Court Judge David Gunn certified a plea agreement that the defendant made straight to the court in October, when Franz admitted a charge of conspiracy.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office formally objected to the court plea, which resulted in “terminal disposition” — no probation, community service or other requirements imposed on the defendant.
Franz’s co-defendant, 59-year-old Michelle Valdez of Thousand Palms, is expected to receive the same terms when she’s sentenced on Jan. 22 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Valdez admitted the conspiracy charge under a plea straight to Judge Joshlyn Pulliam in October.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the two were assigned to the Larson Justice Center in Indio when the felony offense occurred in January 2020.
Prosecutors said a law enforcement officer submitted a search warrant request and asked that the documents remain under seal due to confidentiality concerns and to prevent the investigation from being compromised.
A judge signed the warrant the same day and ordered it sealed, according to the DA’s Office.
“Franz pulled the warrant from the court system, printed it, and then provided it to Valdez,” according to an agency statement released after an indictment against the pair was unsealed. “Both defendants had been court clerks for several years and would know that reviewing, printing and sharing a sealed court document in this manner would be against the law.”
A possible motive was not disclosed.
The case was taken before the 19-member county grand jury in June 2022, resulting in the felony indictment against both women, neither of whom had prior misdemeanor or felony convictions.
They’re no longer employed by the Superior Court.