A mental health diversion granted to a former Kern County politician is coming under fire from numerous California lawmakers and child welfare advocates, who say a repeatedly amended state law is allowing an accused child abuser to avoid prosecution and possible jail time. Zack Scrivner, a former Kern County supervisor, was charged with felony child abuse in February after he was accused of inappropriately touching one of his children in 2024. But because of a Dec. 19 ruling by a judge, he will avoid a trial and instead be funneled into a mental health diversion program - an initiative aimed at helping defendants with mental health disorders get treatment instead of imprisonment for certain crimes.
"I feel very suspicious of the area now," echoed Ramirez, 40, who has a 14-year-old daughter. "We know that many kids tell their moms, 'Mama, we want to go to the park now,' and then the kids go alone. What will happen if there's a predator? The kids don't know how to defend themselves. We thought it was safe, but I don't feel secure anymore."