Judge Denies Bail for Ex-Reclamation Official

Federal prosecutors successfully argued that San Joaquin County water official Monte McFall should be denied bail.

McFall, a former reclamation district board member, is charged with mail fraud, attempted extortion and witness tampering. An FBI agent’s affidavit also accuses him of accepting and soliciting bribes and attempting to shake down developers.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter A. Nowinski ordered McFall held without bail, saying there is “strong evidence the sheriff [Baxter Dunn] acted as his agent” after McFall learned he was the subject of a political corruption investigation by the FBI.