---
category: U.S. Government
location: Sacramento, California
start: 1850
summary: The California Attorney General's Office is the chief law enforcement agency
  for the state of California.
tags:
- Organization
- LawEnforcement
- California
- USGovernment
---

The [California Attorney General's Office](/organizations/california-attorney-generals-office/) is the chief law enforcement agency for the state of [California](/places/california/). It is mentioned in the context of [Ron Van Meter](/people/ron-van-meter/) reporting drug dealing and other forms of corruption within the Mariposa Sheriff's Department to this office in Sacramento. Upon his return, Van Meter was confronted by Sheriff [Paul Paige](/people/paul-paige/), who had been informed by the Attorney General of Van Meter's visit and its contents.[^1]

Three consecutive grand jury foremen sought help from the [California Attorney General's Office](/organizations/california-attorney-generals-office/), but to no avail. [Ben Wagner](/people/ben-wagner/), an attorney representing [Dave Beavers](/people/dave-beavers/) and other deputies, learned that everything pertaining to Mariposa was automatically "trashed" when it crossed the Attorney General's desk. Wagner later filed a Writ of Mandamus against [John Van de Kamp](/people/john-van-de-kamp/), the State Attorney General, for refusing to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1]

---

[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.