Reaction from neighbors after a Squaw Valley family goes to jail. The Scarbers are accused of helping a convicted rapist flee the country.
20-year-old Spencer Scarber was recently found in Mexico. He's now in the Fresno County Jail. Over the weekend his father, mother and sister joined him briefly in jail, but they bailed out yesterday. They have been through a lot over the last few days, and this story is still far from being over.
Running from the jail to a taxi, swearing at media, and hiding their faces from cameras, Gail Scarber and Crystal Reynoso bail out of jail Sunday night. They face charges of conspiracy and being an accessory. Gail faces an additional charge of possessing false documents. Meanwhile, Kyle Scarber, an assistant chief with the CHP, faces charges of conspiracy, being an accessory, and filing a false police report. Deputies believe they all helped Spencer flee to Mexico in the middle of his rape trial.
“When a law enforcement officer is involved it's very, very different,” said attorney Carl Faller, CBS47’s legal expert.
It's high profile case that started in an area far removed from the mainstream. The 20-year-old is convicted of raping a woman in his neighbor's home last summer.
In Squaw Valley, where the Scarbers live, neighbors are hesitant to speak their minds because it is such a small community. But many are sharing some of the same thoughts. They feel sorry for the parents, who were probably just trying to help their son, who was in a lot of trouble.
“What happened with his family is a tragedy and I feel so very sorry for them,” said one neighbor who wanted to be anonymous.
She added that the parents are wonderful people who are known to help those in need.
“They are people we're proud to have for neighbors, for friends, for family, really,” said the neighbor.
Now Kyle Scarber's successful career could be in jeopardy as he and his family face serious accusations. Faller says the parents and sister will likely be charged in one case.
“Especially for the father, I think it's very likely that it'll go through at a very deliberate pace because I have a feeling there aren't going to be any plea bargains as far as he's concerned,” said Faller.
Kyle Scarber's attorney says he could be in court early next month. As for his employment status with the CHP, the department is not commenting.
Spencer Scarber still has to be sentenced in the rape he’s convicted of committing.
