Only on ABC-7: Report finds county treasurer skirted HR procedures

Dona Ana County Treasurer David Gutierrez skirted HR procedures even before he offered an employee $1,000 for sex, that’s according to an investigation commissioned by the county and obtained by ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom.

You’ll remember the county gave that employee $68,000 in a settlement.

Now, the report says Gutierrez wrote her up just weeks before that money-for-sex request, and he brought it up minutes after he solicited her.

According to the investigator, back in July 2014the employee came up $175,000 short in her cash drawer.

The report says the employee’s immediate supervisor checked the video cameras and saw the employee make a mistake as she gave out change. However, Gutierrez said the employee admitted to him to taking the money. But, it’s unclear what really happened.

Documents say Gutierrez did not notify HR until that supervisor told him he had to. While HR recommended the employee be suspended, Gutierrez issued a reprimand.

Investigators say right after soliciting the employee weeks later, Gutierrez told her he’d try and eliminate her write-up.

While County commissioners ABC-7 spoke with are not focused on the employee or the missing money, they are focused on Gutierrez.

“The treasurer solicited sex with an employee, offered money and that there has been a settlement against him that has resulted in cost to the county and the New Mexico Association of Counties and that’s what we’re trying to do is recover money because of his inappropriate behavior, not because of anything that his victim may have done or not done,” Commissoner Billy Garrett said.

“We have a situation where HR made the right recommendation I believe and David Gutierrez refused to accept that recommendation,” Commissioner Ben Rawson said. “I think that’s where the fault lies is with David Gutierrez.”

Gutierrez was indicted on public corruption charges Thursday.