A recent state audit has revealed that tax dollars were used for a controversial event for state employees and their families, which included pony rides and airbrush tattoos. The Division of Public Defender Services spent $22,561 on its 2023 annual meeting, raising concerns about potential misuse of funds.
The I-Team first reported on this event in October 2023, and the new audit highlights the significant expenses incurred. According to the report, the meeting featured various activities, such as an airbrush tattoo station, pony rides, rowboats, and pickleball. Only 45 minutes of the event were dedicated to work-related training.
Of the attendees, 142 were state employees, while 198 were family members. The state paid approximately $12,000 for the participation of non-state employees.
The event was held at Holiday Hills in Prospect during the summer of 2023. Tashun Bowden-Lewis, the chief public defender at the time, received a formal reprimand for signing the contract to host the event. She was later fired in June 2024 due to allegations of improper conduct and failing to cooperate with the overseeing commission. Bowden-Lewis has since filed a federal lawsuit against the state, claiming discrimination.
In response to the audit, the agency acknowledged that tax dollars should primarily be spent on work-related activities. The report noted that the agency’s 2024 annual meeting focused solely on training for division employees.
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