A Yolo County judge on Monday denied former UC Davis fire chief Nathan Jon Trauernicht’s request for mental-health diversion, allowing a felony charge of misappropriating public funds to proceed. Judge Paul Richardson ruled that while Trauernicht was eligible, he was not suitable for diversion, moving the case back toward trial.
The decision came after testimony and arguments about whether Trauernicht approved unearned overtime and engaged in inappropriate workplace behavior, as reported by The Sacramento Bee. The case is scheduled to return to court on December 22.
Prosecutors say overtime was falsified
Search-warrant affidavits and a UC Davis internal audit reviewed by reporters indicate an executive assistant claimed dozens of 20-hour shifts, generating roughly $42,000 in disputed overtime that prosecutors say Trauernicht approved. Investigators flagged suspect timecards spanning 2021–2023, as detailed by The Aggie.
Defense presses for treatment, not punishment
Trauernicht’s attorney argued in court that he suffers from multiple diagnosed disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, and urged the case be steered into supervised mental-health treatment rather than straight to trial. The defense framed Trauernicht as exactly the kind of defendant the Legislature had in mind for diversion, a position summarized by Firehouse referencing reporting on the hearing.
How diversion works under California law
California’s mental-health diversion statute, Penal Code §1001.36, lets courts pause prosecution while eligible defendants receive treatment. But judges must separately find both eligibility and suitability before granting diversion. For felony cases, diversion can last no more than two years, and judges are instructed to weigh expert opinions and public-safety concerns—details outlined in a guide from the Superior Court of Fresno County.
UC Davis response and department oversight
UC Davis says it is cooperating with the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and has launched a third-party review of fire-department operations, as mentioned by KCRA. Campus outlets have also noted the department, which serves a community of more than 40,000, has an interim chief in place while the legal matters move through court.
What’s next
With Judge Richardson’s denial, the case will proceed toward trial. The judge set a return date of December 22, and both sides will continue working through discovery and motions, as per The Sacramento Bee. Nathan Jon Trauernicht and former executive assistant Meagan Emily McFadden, who faces separate charges including misappropriation of public money and perjury, have pleaded not guilty and remain free under conditions, the Yolo County District Attorney said.
