New details emerge in sheriff prosecution
Former Sheriff Randy Waltz will formally face three felony charges at an arraignment that has been postponed from March 29 to May 3 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 2 of the Del Norte County Courthouse.
The delay was necessary because both Del Norte County superior court judges declared a conflict in the matter. Another judge will be assigned to preside over the case.
The complaint, filed March 9, alleges three violations: perjury by declaration on a voter registration application, false voter registration, and false declaration of candidacy. The alleged perjury arises from Waltz’s claim that he resided in the County of Del Norte at 16855 U.S. Highway, Unit 2, Smith River. The location is just one half mile south of the California-Oregon state line.
The property at that address is a four-unit apartment building that, until early this year, was marketed as a short-term vacation rental destination listed with AirBnB and VRBO. The owners, Younan and Sandra Dawood, withdrew their property from the short-term vacation rental market in order to accommodate longer term tenants, such as visiting nurses, who often stay for several months.
The Dawoods stated that Waltz contacted them in January to rent a furnished apartment on a “long, long, long term’ basis. Following that contact, he mailed a $1,500 check to hold and rent the apartment. The check was dated January 23, 2022, and postmarked the next day.
In the envelope along with the check was a note that said, “Sandra & Younan – It was very nice talking to you today. I’m looking forward to meeting you in person. I’ll be back there on Feb. 7. Randy Waltz.”
Waltz registered to vote at the 16855 Highway 101 address on February 8. He had previous been registered to vote in Del Norte County at a different county address, according to Del Norte County Clerk-Registrar Alissia Northrup.
After moving into the apartment, Waltz paid a second $1,500 check on February 28, with a notation on the check indicting that it was intended as rent payment for the month of March.
According to Dawood, Waltz has continued to reside in the apartment to the present day.
“He is here every day. He was here this morning,” Dawood said when interviewed at the property on March 25.
The felony complaint alleges that false voter registration was committed on February 8, and that the false declaration of candidacy was made on February 14, after Waltz had begun renting the apartment.
The apartment owners are baffled by the prosecution.
“Why are they giving this man a hard time before they know the truth?” Dawood said.
Dawood said he has a long running fear of the police dating back 50 years to his native Egypt, before he immigrated to the United States. When district attorney investigators came unannounced to his small apartment building to ask questions, Dawood was afraid.
“Mr. Waltz told me, ‘Don’t worry about it, tell the truth. The truth will prevail. If anybody asks, please just tell them the truth’.”
“We are losing a good servant to the area,” Dawood said.
