The former warden at Mule Creek State Prison in California is said to have retired rather quickly after he became the center of an investigation into theft at a thrift store and an apparent attempt at a cover-up.
Joe Lizarraga allegedly removed price tags from items at the Interfaith Food Bank Thrift Store in Sutter Creek and attempted to pressure the clerk into letting him have the items for much less. He's also said to have lied about the incident to Sutter Creek police, and that he tried to bribe witnesses, according to The Sacramento Bee.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation internal affairs found that Lizarraga's dishonesty, theft and "failure of good behavior" warranted firing, said the report.
It's not clear if Lizarraga was ever charged because the CDCR report issued to the paper was reportedly heavily redacted.
State records show that he received $433,000 in unused vacation and leave time, holiday and weekend pay, and other accrued special pay, according to department representative quoted by the paper.
He now said to be getting monthly pension payments of $11,500, based on information the paper received from the California Public Employees' Retirement System.