Did Dixon's Vice Mayor Influence Bail Reduction for Hensley's Release?

As former Dixon High JV Football Coach Troy Hensley attempts to fight charges that he had sex with an underage girl, it seems that he has found a prominent ally in Dixon’s Vice Mayor, Dane Besneatte.

Besneatte, who has before represented Hensley in a Solano County criminal courtroom, once again came to his former client’s aid by writing a letter to Yolo County Superior Court Judge Rosenberg encouraging Hensley’s release from jail.

While Besneatte is the Vice Mayor of Dixon, and a local attorney who has made his living defending his clients in court, Besneatte maintains that he wrote the character letter to the judge as a personal individual.

And while no one would argue that an elected official has the right that any other private citizens have, and are free to support whomever they choose to, people question if it was appropriate for Besneatte to sign the letter as the Vice Mayor of Dixon.

In the letter he signed as both Vice Mayor, City of Dixon, and Attorney at Law, Besneatte wrote, “I hope I have helped the Court in making this very difficult and sensitive decision,” following personal assurance that Hensley does not carry grudges, is not a violent person, and respectful and honest of his word.

The bail for Hensley was reduced from $1 million to $450k on June 9, the letter was written and faxed to Hensley’s lawyer, Steven Sabbadini, on June 7, 2013. Patch caught up with Besneatte at a recent city council meeting and this is what he had to say:

Patch: Why did you use your title as Vice Mayor, City of Dixon, in support of the character and release of Troy Hensley, who was being held on $1-million bail for eight counts of unlawful intercourse with a minor?

Vice Mayor Besneatte: “I am the Vice Mayor of the City; that is my identity, as much as being an attorney of the law is. I didn’t write it on behalf of the City, just as I didn’t write it on behalf of my office. Everything I say holds responsibility to my elected title, just as the President doesn’t stop being President depending on what he writes, he is always the President, it doesn’t mean he is always speaking on behalf of the People, he has his own opinions too.”

Patch: Was it your intention to speak as a Council Member in this situation, or were you using your elected title to enhance your credibility?

Vice Mayor Besneatte: “The Judge residing on the case was the Mayor of Davis, so I don’t think he would care about me being the Vice Mayor because he wouldn’t think it was a big deal. I wasn’t trying to capitalize on the City, I just wanted to show the Court that I believed he would show up, and he is no danger. Most people don’t know me, so I didn’t think anyone would care about this.”

Patch: Do you feel your letter influenced the Judge’s decision to reduce Hensley’s bail by more than half?

Vice Mayor Besneatte: “Probably not, I wrote it to give perspective to the Court in the setting of the bail amount. Being a lawyer, I’ve seen more bothersome cases with less bail. I was just offering up that I don’t feel he is a flight risk. The case has a life of its own, and is very tragic for two families.”

Patch: Is it true that from November 2010- September 2011, you represented Troy Hensley as a Public Defender in Solano County for Battery Charges he was tried on?

Vice Mayor Besneatte: “Yes, after they found he hadn’t done anything wrong, they dismissed the case. He didn’t do anything.”

The Dixon Police Report of the incident confirms Hensley was witnessed and admitted to punching a victim to diffuse a situation outside of a bar.

City Manager, Jim Lindley, clearly states, “The Council Member did this on his own volition, it has nothing to do with the City.”

Mayor, Jack Batchelor assures he has no position on the subject, “The issue is to be decided by the Courts. Dane, signing as Vice Mayor does not mean he is speaking for the City.”

Charges against Hensley include 26 felonies including: unlawful sex with a minor, oral copulation, sexual penetration with a foreign object with a person under 18 and threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, he has been released on bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 29th at the Yolo County Courts.