As the first week concludes in the trial against Lassen Superior Court Judge Tony Mallery in Sacramento, presiding Judge Nareau has testified that he carried a gun to his chambers out of fear. According to the Daily Journal, Nareau revealed that he began carrying and storing a .45 handgun in his work desk after Court Executive Officer Theresa Stalter informed him of Mallery’s alleged statement that he would “go postal” if an ongoing investigation resulted in his removal. This precautionary measure was taken in late 2021.
Nareau confirmed that he possesses a CCW permit and had notified court security officers about carrying the firearm to his chambers.
During the trial, Mallery’s counsel reportedly challenged Nareau’s testimony, suggesting that Mallery’s perceived angry appearance, characterized as a “red face” look, is attributed to a medical condition. They also pointed out that much of Nareau’s testimony involved one-on-one interactions between the only two judges in the courthouse.
Mallery is facing 21 counts of misconduct, primarily concerning allegations of sexist, racial, and threatening comments. The trial’s second week has been scheduled from August 15th to the 25th.
