Former Pima Sheriff’s Official Sentenced to Probation and Fined for Theft

Former chief deputy of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Christopher Radtke, was sentenced to probation on Friday, concluding an extensive FBI investigation into money laundering and theft. Radtke, who served as the second-in-command to the sheriff, pleaded guilty earlier this year to three misdemeanor counts of theft of federal funds.

His guilty plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric Markovich. Radtke has been sentenced to one year of probation for each count, which will run concurrently. In addition to the probation, he was fined $3,000 and must complete 100 hours of community service. Notably, his plea agreement prohibits him from seeking employment in law enforcement or with Pima County.

The investigation was triggered by a 2015 article from the Star, which revealed that cafes operated rent-free by Radtke’s niece within the sheriff’s headquarters and the county jail lacked the necessary county contracts. Initial reports indicated nearly $30,000 was spent on these cafes, initially claimed to be from RICO funds, later clarified to originate from the department’s general fund.

Following the publication, several employees alerted the FBI, prompting an investigation into the misuse of federal funds. This probe uncovered that Radtke embezzled approximately $500,000 in funds marked for the sheriff’s auxiliary volunteers program, intended for crime fighting and prevention.

U.S. Attorney David Backman indicated that although Radtke faced charges alone, other department members were implicated in similar practices. At the heart of the matter was a former chief of staff, Bradley Gagnepain, referenced by Backman, who expressed regrets about the ongoing mismanagement within the department. Tragically, Gagnepain had taken his own life in June.

Backman emphasized the prosecution’s commitment to eliminating corruption within the Sheriff’s Department, noting the significant impact of Radtke’s resignation in addressing these issues. Despite some criticism over the perceived leniency of the plea deal, Backman defended it as the appropriate course of action given the circumstances.

Defense attorney Sean Chapman argued Radtke’s involvement was limited and maintain that the funds were not stolen but misallocated to facilitate department operations without bureaucratic entanglements. Radtke acknowledged the long-standing practice of fund diversion, admitting he was only complicit for the final six years of its existence.

In court, Radtke abstained from addressing the judge directly. His acceptance of the plea deal drew mixed reactions from attendees, particularly members of the Sheriff’s Department, who expressed disappointment at the leniency of the sentence compared to the severe initial charges. Judge Markovich remarked on the gravity of the case, implying a broader indictment of the department’s practices over nearly two decades.

Following the proceedings, criticism emerged from within the department, particularly from Sgt. Kevin Kubitskey, president of the Pima County Deputy Sheriff Association. He voiced concerns regarding the perceived injustice and lack of accountability, suggesting that the case reflected poorly on community confidence in law enforcement. Kubitskey expressed skepticism about the notion that all corruption could be eradicated with one resignation.

Though the federal investigation has concluded, hope remains for further reforms under the new sheriff, Mark Napier. Changes to the processes governing RICO fund requests have been implemented by the County Attorney’s Office to prevent similar issues in the future.

For further inquiries, contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191. Follow her on Twitter @caitlinschmidt.