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Former Kern County District 2 Supervisor Zack Scrivner has been charged with five felony counts: three counts of willful cruelty to a child and two counts of possession of an assault rifle.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the charges Feb. 14, filed in Kern County Superior Court. Scrivner was scheduled for arraignment at 3 p.m. Friday.
“No one is above the law,” Bonta said. “At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to fight for the people of California and hold those who break the law accountable.”
In the criminal complaint, the first count alleges that Scrivner took mind- or mood-altering drugs, got into bed with one of his children, and touched that child inappropriately. Counts two and three allege that Scrivner introduced firearms in a situation where a child would attempt to get control of the firearms or otherwise prevent the defendant from committing self-harm, and struggled with the child over the firearms. Count two also claims this struggle seriously aggravated an existing injury to a child.
Counts four and five regard unlawful possession of assault weapons: an AK-47-style rifle (count four) and an AR-15-style rifle (count five).
The charges come after a long investigation that began when Kern County Sheriff’s Department deputies were sent to his home in April 2024, following a call to Sheriff Donny Youngblood from District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, who is Scrivner’s aunt. She said she feared for her nephew because he was having “some type of psychotic episode and was armed with a gun,” Youngblood said at a subsequent news conference.
Deputies arrived and found Scrivner suffering from two stab wounds, allegedly inflicted by one of his sons, who believed his father had sexually assaulted another child, Youngblood said. The four children and Scrivner’s parents were all in the home when deputies arrived.
Scrivner was taken to Kern Medical Center to treat his injuries, while detectives obtained a warrant. They removed electronics, a small amount of what Youngblood called “psychedelic mushrooms” and about 30 guns.
The California Attorney General’s Office agreed in May to investigate the case. Since then, he resigned his Board of Supervisors seat in August, and Chris Parlier was elected in November to fill it.
Most recently, a family law judge said there will be no more delays for a hearing on a domestic violence restraining order, now set for March 10. Law enforcement and minor children are expected to testify.
