MASON CITY – A man with extensive computer expertise who was in charge of Cerro Gordo county’s MIS department was exonerated for a fourth time in court this week, but will remain on unpaid leave from his job.
Tuesday, Judge Annette Boehlje granted a rare motion for judgment of acquittal that was asked for Tepner’s attorney, Richard Piscopo, after the special prosecuting attorney, Mark Young, had presented his case. According to a source, Young had presented his case, which consisted of a police officer and the alleged victim. The judge then scolded Young for presenting what the source called a “weak case”. Piscopo then made his motion for judgement of acquittal after the jury left the room, and Judge Boehlje agreed that there was not enough evidence to present to the jury.
Piscopo told NIT Thursday that this was the first time in 21 years he had ever seen that motion granted.
“It’s pretty rare,” he said.
Tepner now has been to court for trial for times. He was accused of domestic assault and was acquitted by a jury. He was accused of violating a no-contact order twice – once by phone and once by allegedly requesting his accuser become his “friend” on Facebook. Both charges were dismissed by a judge. In the case of the Facebook friend request, Piscopo told NIT that he went to Facebook and requested an entire history of Tepner’s actions on Facebook, and showed the judge that Tepner had never made a friend request to his accuser.
In the final case, Tepner was accused of stalking by allegedly repeatedly driving by his accuser’s home. However, in court, the accuser did not specifically state that she feared for her life or safety from Tepner’s actions. They had been in an off-and-on relationship for nearly 8 years.
After Tepner was acquitted by a jury of domestic abuse, his accuser told NIT that she was “heartbroken” over the outcome, stating that photo evidence shows she was physically injured by Tepner.
“I am in fear,” the woman told NIT. “My address is out there. I’m heartbroken over this outcome. I was a victim of physical abuse, mental abuse and psychological abuse.”
According to Cerro Gordo County Personnel & Safety Director Tom Drzycimski,
Scott Tepner will remain on an unpaid leave from his job as MIS director.
“The issues the county is looking into go beyond the charges that Mr. Tepner faced,” Drzycimski stated. “Since this is a personnel issue, it would be inappropriate to say anything further.”
NIT also questioned Drzycimski on the costs to the county to hire special prosecutor Mark Young to handle the charges brought against Tepner. NIT was told the costs wold fall somewhere betweem $20,000 to $30,000.
“I would normally not see those invoices or know what those costs are for a special prosecutor,” Drzycimski said.
Last October, Cerro Gordo County Auditor Ken Kline presented a vote of no confidence from a steering committee to the Board of Supervisors regarding Tepner, after he had already been placed on unpaid leave of absence.
EXONERATED ON ALL CHARGES
The Judge acquitted Mr Tepner after he had already been unsuccessfully prosecuted 3 times by Mr. Young! As a community we should really be asking whether we want Mr. Young to have prosecutorial power. Who among us could withstand an attack like that?
Again I say – Piscopo vs. Young – – – no brainer.
The Globe had Mark Young listed as a “special prosecutor” – – – that was funny.