Shasta Scout Article on Susan Wilson Misleads the Public

OPINION

Redding, CA — In yet another example of selective reporting, Shasta Scout published a shallow, one-sided article on May 22, 2026, that whitewashes critical findings from the Anderson Police Department’s investigation into former Youth Options Shasta Director Susan Wilson. The article was entitled "Unsatisfied with lack of charges against former nonprofit director, Crye takes aim at Shasta's district attorney" by Nevin Kallepalli.

While Shasta Unfiltered has consistently provided readers with a detailed, document-based analysis of the case, Shasta Scout’s piece reads more like a hit piece on Kevin Crye and damage control for Wilson than honest journalism.

Key Omissions and Misrepresentations in Shasta Scout’s Article:

• Resignation vs. Termination: Shasta Scout relied heavily on Susan Wilson’s own claim that she left the organization “voluntarily.” In reality, the Youth Options Shasta board — after an ad hoc committee investigation — terminated Wilson for cause in September 2024 due to serious financial irregularities and breach of contract. Multiple board members, including former Chair Aleta Carpenter, have confirmed she was fired, not that she resigned.

• Ignoring Police Report Details: The Scout article glosses over Wilson’s own admissions documented in the Anderson Police reports. She admitted to giving herself unauthorized raises and benefits totaling over $37,000 without proper board approval. The Scout fails to mention these admissions, the contradictions in her statements, or the poor oversight that allowed these issues to continue for years.

• Overemphasis on “No Charges”: While it is true that the District Attorney declined to file criminal charges, the police investigation did not exonerate Wilson. It simply concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to prove criminal intent “beyond a reasonable doubt” — a much higher standard than the civil or ethical breaches that clearly occurred.

  
  

Shasta Scout’s article frames Supervisor Kevin Crye as the aggressor who won’t let the matter drop, while soft-pedaling the governance failures at a nonprofit serving at-risk youth. By contrast, Shasta Unfiltered’s reporting on May 10 laid out the full timeline, quoted directly from police documents, and highlighted the board’s legitimate concerns.

When local media cherry-picks facts, leans on a subject’s self-serving narrative, and downplays documented misconduct, it does a disservice to the community — especially when taxpayer and grant dollars are involved. Crye is correct in asking why the DA's office failed to prosecute the case when Wilson admitted to both the police and the ad hoc committee investigating the breach of contract that she gave herself medical benefits and raises without authorization from the board. Her salary was lumped in with other staff salaries, so the board was unaware of the raises when it approved the yearly budget.

The public deserves full transparency on how a prominent nonprofit was being run, not a sanitized version that protects those in power. Shasta Scout’s latest piece falls well short of that standard and should be labeled "Fake News".