Countywide

The San Diego County district attorney’s office has decided to forward its investigation into Sheriff John Duffy’s unreported outside income to the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

Steve Casey, a spokesman for the district attorney, said Thursday that, after many interviews and a review of state law, his office believes the investigation into Duffy’s work as a private consultant should be conducted by the FPPC in Sacramento.

In sending its case file to the state agency, Casey added, the district attorney has made no conclusions as to whether Duffy violated any laws by not disclosing the income he received as a consultant for private firms.

“The only determination made at this point is that it’s appropriate for them (the FPPC) to review it,” he said. “We’ve talked to them about it, and they agree. Now, it’s up to them to make any conclusions.”

The district attorney’s office announced in October that it was reviewing state laws to see whether Duffy should have included the outside income in his annual Statement of Economic Interest forms.

Although Duffy had in the past claimed he lived solely on his county salary, he later conceded working as a private consultant on law enforcement-related projects. But he has asserted that, because the work was performed for other government agencies, he was not required to disclose the income on his annual forms.