District Attorney’s Check Garnished for Tax Payment

Mendocino County Dist. Atty. Norman Vroman, a self-described “tax rebel,” had $2,064 garnished from his paychecks earlier this year as the government sought to recover $557,000 in unpaid income taxes.

Making an exception to state law, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer decided that the amount of Vroman’s paycheck deductions can be released to the public, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported.

“What the district attorney does in reducing his tax debts affects the public’s trust in the performance of his official, discretionary duties,” Lockyer wrote. He also said the public should be able to determine whether Vroman got special treatment from tax officials.

A records request from the Press Democrat prompted the investigation into whether the paycheck information could be released. Lockyer’s five-page legal opinion was received by county officials last week.

Vroman, a Libertarian who was elected last November, said he would not challenge the opinion.

On Wednesday, County Auditor-Controller Dennis Huey released the records, showing that the state garnished $516 from four of Vroman’s $3,331 biweekly paychecks from January to March.

The district attorney has a history of tax trouble. He did not pay federal taxes for 18 years, saying he knew of no statute requiring him to do so, and spent nine months in federal prison for tax evasion.

Authorities contend that Vroman owes the federal government $3.4 million in back taxes, interest and penalties from 1977 to 1981. The state also wants $557,000 because he did not pay state taxes from 1977 to 1981, from 1985 to 1989 and in 1992.

Vroman declared Chapter 13 bankruptcy last year, but a judge threw out his case, saying he owed too much money. Vroman has since reopened his Chapter 7 bankruptcy case to dispute the IRS claims. He had filed for bankruptcy two previous times.