Former ally of ex-sheriff sues county over rumors

A former ally of ex-San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus has sued the county for rumors Corpus and her former chief of staff Victor Aenlle spread about her, and hits back with her own allegations about alleged drug use by the pair. 

Valerie Barnes was Corpus’ assistant when she was captain in Millbrae, serving as the city’s police chief. When Corpus was running for sheriff, she regularly brought around Aenlle, who was working on her campaign. Rumors about Corpus and Aenlle being in a romantic relationship have persisted since Corpus’ campaign for sheriff in 2022.

The two would leave the Millbrae office for hours “purportedly to campaign” and Corpus would return visibly intoxicated or grinding her teeth, a common effect of some drugs, the lawsuit, filed by attorney Zak Franklin in San Mateo County Superior Court last week alleges. 

Corpus would regularly instruct Barnes to clean up her office, which included cleaning up crushed white pills with blue speckles. 

Barnes was also told to hide a Sephora bag full of condoms when Corpus had visitors to her office. 

Barnes says in her lawsuit, filed last week in San Mateo County Superior Court, that she was ordered to research wedding venues in Maui for Aenlle and Corpus, despite that both were married. Corpus has since divorced her husband, former Lt. John Kovach. 

Barnes also mentions other aspects about Aenlle and Corpus’ alleged relationship, that the two often played footsie, fed each other and asked employees to rearrange seating so they could face each other. Barnes reiterates claims that Aenlle bought Corpus Louboutin boots and Tiffany earrings. Corpus has previously said she bought herself the earrings. (Read more about other allegations by Barnes from her testimony during a hearing regarding Corpus)

Once Corpus was elected, she told Barnes she planned to hire Aenlle. Barnes allegedly told Corpus that hiring Aenlle, a civilian and Corpus’ romantic partner, would be unethical and an illegal misappropriation of public funds, the lawsuit states. 

After that conversation, Barnes began to feel the repercussions of speaking out against Corpus’ hiring of Aenlle. 

Barnes says a promotion was reneged on, she thought she was applying to become a “management analyst” which would have aligned more closely with what she had been doing for the Millbrae office, she had also been told by Corpus’ successor in Millbrae, Capt. Eamonn Allen, that she’d start on the highest pay tier once her promotion went through. But, she alleges that due to meddling by Corpus and Aenlle, she was ultimately promoted to “associate management analyst” a lower-paying position, which eliminated her ability for overtime and effectively resulted in a $12,000 pay cut. 

According to the lawsuit, other examples of retaliation included: 

• Barnes hearing from others that Corpus and Aenlle spread a rumor that Barnes would sleep with men who donated to Corpus’ campaign, 
• Rumors that Barnes stole money from the Millbrae evidence room, a room she claims she never had access to, 
• Leaking to a TV reporter that Barnes was one of the witnesses involved in retired Judge LaDoris Cordell’s HR investigation into Aenlle and Corpus, 
• Barnes being accused of mishandling Corpus’ belongings during the move from Corpus’ Millbrae office to Redwood City, despite the fact that Barnes was on medical leave during the move. 
• Corpus refusing to speak to Barnes directly, and leaving her out of meetings and events, 
• Corpus and Aenlle allegedly telling sheriff’s office employees that Barnes is “rude,” “evil,” “can’t be trusted,” “mean” and “vile.” and 
• Barnes was accused of running an Instagram account that mocked Corpus. 

The Post has reached out to the county, Corpus and Aenlle for comment. This post will be updated with any response. 

Corpus’ legal team has previously dismissed Barnes’ allegations against the former sheriff as coming from someone bitter about being passed up for a promotion. 

A civil grand jury empaneled to investigate allegations of relation and nepotism by Corpus rejected a count against Corpus regarding Barnes’ allegations about being denied overtime after raising concerns about Aenlle.