Judge extends, expands restraining order against former county employee – San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego County has obtained a five-year restraining order against a longtime clerk of voters employee who was convicted of falsely threatening and harassing a series of former colleagues and the Board of Supervisors.

Judge Rebecca Zipp agreed to extend and expand a temporary restraining order issued Aug. 9 against Justin James Castro, a former elections employee who sent hundreds of harassing and vulgar emails and phone messages to county officials.

The injunction is the first time county officials have sought a court order against a longtime employee.

Castro, who worked in the registrar’s office for nearly 20 years before being disciplined and placed on unpaid leave more than five years ago, has repeatedly raised questions about the legitimacy of mail-in voting.

He claimed, without evidence, that the county system was vulnerable to fraud and that election results could be compromised.

Castro is prohibited from coming within 100 yards of the cars, homes and workplaces of four women who work for San Diego County until at least Aug. 29, 2029. He cannot visit the county’s downtown administrative center or the operations center in Kearny Mesa.

He will no longer be allowed to attend public meetings of the supervisory board in person, but he will be able to call board meetings and submit written comments. The court could change that arrangement if Castro persists in his behavior.

In the 16-page petition filed ahead of Friday’s hearing, county officials accused Castro of repeatedly insulting as many as four county employees in hundreds of contacts dating back more than three years.

“He frequently visits their offices and behaves in an abusive, harassing, aggressive and hostile manner,” the county told the judge. “On at least three occasions, he has chased a protected person between their office building and a parking garage or parking lot.”

After Friday’s hearing, Castro said he regretted the conflict but did not apologize for his actions.

“I was so frustrated from being ignored for years that I didn’t even like the way I spoke to these people anymore,” he said. “But I showed them the same respect they gave me.”

According to court documents, county officials repeatedly attempted to address concerns raised by Castro about the mail-in voting process. However, instead of accepting the explanations, they said Castro continued to verbally harass and threaten employees.