Press Event Outside Sheriff’s Office Demanding Investigation into Alleged Election Irregularities
- Kari Chilson
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — On August 25, 2026, a group of residents concerned about election integrity gathered with signs and flags in front of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office for a citizens-led press event. They urged Sheriff Michael L. Johnson to investigate specific allegations of election fraud and related crimes at the Registrar of Voters (ROV) office.
The citizens focused on several concrete claims they said require immediate local investigation:
Fraudulent or illegitimate ballots currently stored in the ROV office, including groups of ballots with noticeably different paper thickness, a “weird smell,” and markings filled in perfectly and consistently “as though they’d been copied.”
Breaking and entering into the elections office, which they said is documented on video and involved office employees.
Threats against the elections facility (including alleged statements about damaging or burning it down), along with related vandalism and graffiti.
Past election irregularities, including past claims that the 2024 election under then-Deputy Registrar Joanna Francesca produced 2,783 more ballots than registered voters, and earlier alleged violations of California election codes (including chain-of-custody failures for mail-in ballots under previous administrations).
Dan Ladd, who organized the gathering after unsuccessful attempts to reach the sheriff, said he began contacting the office at 7 a.m. the previous Friday. Staff told him someone would respond within two days, but he reported receiving no reply despite providing his contact information multiple times. “We’ve got a federal election that has been stolen, and we’ve got fraudulent votes that are over there right now in the ROV’s office, and our sheriff will not respond,” Ladd stated. He and others called for the sheriff to sequester the disputed ballots and fully investigate the alleged crimes.
Rich Gallardo emphasized that the sheriff retains jurisdiction over local and state violations and can pursue a concurrent investigation alongside any federal probe. “There can be two concurrent investigations, one for local and state crimes and one for federal crimes,” he said. “The sheriff can do it and he does not need the FBI’s permission.” Gallardo called statements deferring solely to the FBI “disingenuous.”
Laura Hobbs noted that residents have sought sheriff involvement for years regarding alleged election violations under prior administrations. She cited specific California election codes she said had been violated previously and stressed the importance of chain-of-custody procedures, which she credited the current ROV leadership under Clint Curtis with improving through sealed boxes, logs, and public records access. Hobbs distinguished between holding individual employees accountable for the alleged breaking and entering and broader leadership responsibility. “You can’t just do breaking and entering and not be held to account,” she said.
Kim Moore cited recent statewide efforts that blocked hand-counted ballots in Shasta County. She said, "Who can deny that this state has done everything possible under Gavin Newsom to prevent us from being able to secure our elections, and if we don't have secure elections, we don't have anything."
Other speakers, including Rick Hutchinson, called for free and fair elections. He said, " We want everybody to have a fair chance. We don't want our votes stolen by illegitimate votes. We need to have our votes count...We need the Save America Act to pass."
Reporters questioned the group about an existing FBI presence. Ladd acknowledged that Clint Curtis had contacted the FBI and that agents had come to town, but said he did not know whether a formal investigation was underway. Participants maintained that local action on the specific allegations above remained necessary regardless.
After the outdoor event, Ladd and others attempted to enter the Sheriff’s Office, which was closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. At 1 p.m., they spoke with a receptionist inside the Sheriff's Office, and approximately 40 minutes later, two deputies met with them. According to a participant who had also emailed the office the prior Friday without a receipt, the deputies confirmed both emails had been received via a portal system that does not generate automatic confirmation. The deputies stated that a fraud crime report had been filed, was under active investigation by an assigned deputy, and that no status details could be shared. Upon completion, the matter would be referred to the California Attorney General’s office. The participant expressed concern that results might not be shared publicly.
Separately, Deidre Holliday, who was not present at the event but had spoken with the FBI about ballot issues from the June election, stated that the FBI told her it had not opened a formal investigation. According to Holliday, agents described only a preliminary review to determine whether one was warranted, noted that investigations can take years, and indicated she would likely not hear further unless an investigation was officially opened. She said the FBI would ask media to correct any claims that an investigation was already underway. Holliday argued that deferring action on that basis could leave the matter stalled for years.
In its official media release issued the same day, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office stated that Sheriff Michael L. Johnson “did not schedule this press conference.” The release noted awareness of a social-media announcement titled “Patriots are Organizing” that referenced incidents involving the ROV office and “Clint” (interpreted as Clint Curtis), and that called for sequestering alleged illegal or illegitimate ballots, addressing threats to burn down the facility, and attendance.
“Sheriff Johnson is aware of the incidents surrounding the Elections Office,” the release said. “Sheriff’s Office personnel have already reached out to Mr. Curtis, who agreed to provide a statement regarding the person who allegedly mentioned damaging the facility. This is considered an active investigation; therefore, no additional information is going to be released at this time.”
Regarding the separate broader ballot controversy, the release stated: “It is the Sheriff’s understanding that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the matter; therefore, Sheriff Johnson is urging members of the public to be patient and await the results of that investigation. At this point, launching a second investigation could complicate a process already in place.”
There seems to be uncertainty about whether the FBI has started or will start a formal investigation.
Participants in the citizens’ event stressed their goal of restoring public confidence by having the specific allegations—fraudulent ballots, break-ins, threats, and past irregularities—thoroughly investigated at the local level.
Photos by Jerry Sanchez, Sr., Shasta Unfiltered
