Superior Court Judge Karen Dixon continued a May 16 sentencing hearing for former Plumas County Human Resources Director Nancy Louise Selvage. Dixon, visiting from Siskiyou County, set a new sentencing hearing for July 10.
Selvage, 70, was convicted March 25 of obtaining money by false pretenses, a conflict of interest felony. She pleaded no contest to count 1 of the three criminal charges filed against her Nov. 16, 2023.
The March 25 conviction followed day-long negotiations between Dixon, Eric Acevedo, Selvage’s attorney, and Assistant District Attorney Brian Hagan, the prosecutor. What was expected to be a two-week jury trial ended in a day, with the pool of around 200 jurors dismissed.
At the trial it was assumed that part of Selvage’s sentence would include an order to repay Plumas County $103,679.63 as restitution. She would also be compensated $16,820 for the vacation and sick time she had earned as a county employee.
Both amounts have been “offset” by “Selvage’s early plea,” Acevedo said at the May 16 sentencing hearing. Hagen proposed deducting the vacation/sick leave pay from the restitution, giving Selvage a smaller overall payment to make to the county. Acevedo raised issues about the proposal, arguing the changes could require a restitution hearing.
During their discussions, Dixon said, “It sounds almost like she is considering withdrawing her plea.”
“We are right on the shelf of that,” Acevedo replied.
Both Dixon and Acevedo participated in the sentencing hearing by Zoom. The hearing was further complicated by motions emailed to Dixon that she did not receive.
Acevedo said he planned to file additional motions before July 10. Dixon said she would hear restitution and any other motions July 10.
Acevedo did not return a call from The Plumas Sun seeking his comment. Selvage declined to comment after the hearing.
