Thumbnail photo: Randy Hooper's felony hit-and-run and DUI charges stem from a collision that occurred at Sand Mine Road and U.S. 101 on April 19. | Photo by Heather Polen Though he provided a character reference for Randy Hooper, who faces felony hit-and-run and DUI charges, Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott said he disagrees with how it was used during an Aug. 26 preliminary hearing. In an email to Redwood Voice Community News on Aug. 27, Scott said he did not support efforts by George Mavris, Hooper’s attorney, to reduce his client’s charges from felonies to misdemeanors. Scott said he also refrained from using his title when signing the character reference, though he acknowledges that he “inherits the title.” He said he also took issue with a comment prosecuting attorney Keith Morris made during the hearing, that he was “disappointed that a sitting sheriff submitted a letter.” “I was like, ‘Hey, wait a minute, if his attorney decided to use my character reference in a 17(b) [motion], that’s not my fault,'” Scott told Redwood Voice on Thursday. “It was very clear that my letter was written in May, and, if you read my letter, it’s really specific that it is a character reference. It says I know nothing about the case.” Judge Karen Olson rejected Mavris’s attempts to get Hooper’s charges reduced to a misdemeanor after hearing from alleged victim, Megan Postma, who said April 19 collision with Hooper left her with pain, numbness and tingling in her right arm. Mavris had submitted Scott’s character reference as well as character references from a former sheriff and County Administrative Officer Neal Lopez. Olson, who asked the victim to weigh in on the proposed 17(b) motion, said the motion wasn’t in the interest of justice. “Accountability and justice go hand-in-hand regardless of how many Board of Supervisor members or sheriffs you know,” she said. “Reducing charges may occur in the future, but that is on the people.” Scott said Hooper contacted him and asked him to provide a character reference about a week after the California Highway Patrol arrested him. According to the sheriff, Hooper was apologetic and said he wanted to make restitution. Scott said he told Hooper that he’d be willing to write a character reference based on his experience with Hooper “other than the situation that took place.” “I got the impression that he likely thought that an outside judge would read that at sentencing time,” Scott said. “I had no idea it would be utilized to help reduce sentencing in a 17(b) motion.” Morris is prosecuting the case against Hooper under the direction of the California Attorney General’s office, according to Del Norte County District Attorney Katherine Micks. Micks and Assistant District Attorney Todd Zocchi have recused themselves from the case. In his letter, Scott said that he was aware of Hooper’s arrest and the charges he faces, though he does not have input into the case or the matter specifically. Saying that he has known Hooper and his family for “a number of years,” Scott said he found Hooper’s alleged involvement with alcohol and his alleged actions on April 19 to be out of character. “I have not seen Mr. Hooper use poor judgment in the past and have always noticed he is level-headed, respectful and very kind to others,” Scott wrote. “He has clearly been instrumental in helping the County of Del Norte, his employer, to complete some extremely complex projects. I am hopeful to portray my feelings that Mr. Hooper is a dedicated family man, very honest and [an] extremely hard worker.” Scott said he’s written very few character references for people who are defendants in a criminal court case. He said he thinks Hooper asked him for a character reference because of their professional relationship — one project they’ve both been working on, in particular, is the rehabilitation of the Del Norte County Jail. Hooper is also part of the Del Norte County budget team. Scott said it’s been his experience that Hooper is often the notetaker and helps keep track of which budget line items are being discussed. “I don’t believe there should ever be any leniency towards a person simply because they are in government,” Scott told Redwood Voice. “I do believe strongly in the law [but] I don’t know all the details of his arrest by the California Highway Patrol.” The collision that led to Hooper’s April 19 arrest occurred at about 10 p.m. near Sand Mine Road and U.S. 101 after he was asked to leave Elk Valley Casino. According to testimony from Jennifer Williamson, an investigator with the District Attorney's Office, casino staff had asked Hooper to leave the casino multiple times, but when he was asked to pay his bill he allegedly refused. According to an interview Williamson had with one staff member, Hooper showed “passive defiance” when refusing to pay his bill, saying he “knew everyone at the sheriff’s office.” Footage shown during the hearing depicts Hooper leaving the casino as a cab was pulling up. Though casino staff had secured the taxi cab for Hooper, the defendant walked toward his truck Casino staff tried to approach Hooper, but he left the casino approaching the speed limit at the end of the property in about 23 seconds, according to Williamson, who had interviewed casino employees. Hooper allegedly struck Postma from behind, pushing her out onto U.S. 101 facing north. Postma testified that she felt she was sideswiped as Hooper wound up in front of her where he stopped his truck. She said she counted for about 15 seconds before she reached for her phone when she saw Hooper allegedly begin to drive away. According to testimony from CHP Officer Edgar Anaya, Hooper had a blood-alcohol level of 0.198. Another court date has been scheduled for Tuesday.