Findings of Paso Robles harassment investigation to be released in $277,000 settlement
The city of Paso Robles will pay $277,000 and release the findings of the investigation into former city manager Ty Lewis’ claims of harassment by Councilman Chris Bausch.
That’s according to a settlement The Tribune has reached with the city and Bausch after it filed a lawsuit alleging violations of California’s Public Records Act.
The Tribune filed the lawsuit in March after several records requests for documents on Bausch’s personal devices went unanswered. The requests related to former city manager Ty Lewis $2.2 million complaint alleging tht Bausch harassed him and created a hostile work environment.
The city told The Tribune in February that Bausch “explicitly refused” to turn over public records without a court order.
Bausch denied this allegation, claiming there were various reasons for his delay in releasing records. This included him accidentally corrupting files, a city-hired lawyer advising him not to release records — a claim the city said is not supported by evidence — and him believing he had the right to withhold records unless the city agreed to represent him or pay for his legal fees.
“The Tribune achieved a major benefit for the City of Paso Robles and the public as a whole by successfully fighting for the release of Bausch’s records from his ‘private’ phones after the City told us that he wasn’t going to make them available,” Karl Olson, The Tribune’s attorney, said of the lawsuit and settlement.
He added that the California Supreme Court encouraged cities and public officials to either use or copy a government device when they conduct public business. Bausch regularly did not use the government device and did not copy a government device on his communications about city business.
In a statement to The Tribune, the city continued to maintain that it acted in good faith when responding to The Tribune records requests. It was Bausch, the city said, who repeatedly refused to comply with state law unless ordered to do so by a court.
As part of the settlement, the city agreed to pay The Tribune $250,000 to cover its legal fees.
It also will pay $27,000 to cover the costs of Bausch’s attorney. Bausch refused to settle the case unless the city agreed to that stipulation.
The city said the settlement will be paid for out of its general fund, meaning taxpayers will cover the cost. The city only agreed to pay for Bausch’s legal fees to prevent taxpayers from incurring even more legal bills, it said.
Bausch leaks tentative settlement to Cal Coast News
On Monday, the city also confirmed that Bausch leaked confidential documents and emails to Karen Velie at Cal Coast News prior to the settlement being signed.
When reached for comment about both the settlement and leaking confidential documents to Velie, Bausch simply responded, “It’s settled.”
In a story posted Monday morning, Velie falsely reported that The Tribune requested $950,000 in legal fees. Lewis alleged Bausch conspired with Velie and other community members to ruin his reputation and oust him from his office as the city’s top administrator.
Olson, The Tribune’s attorney, said it was not proper for Bausch to leak documents and emails to Velie before it was signed.
“Any report that the Tribune originally demanded $950,000 in fees to settle the case is pure fiction,” he added. “The negotiations which resulted in the city’s agreement to pay $250,000 in fees and costs proceeded in a narrow range with the Tribune at one time demanding slightly more than $250,000, but less than $300,000, and the City at one time offering slightly less than $235,000 before agreeing to pay the Tribune $250,000.”
Bausch also claimed in the settlement that he attempted to send documents directly to The Tribune on May 9, which is false.
In the very first court hearing on April 9, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Michael Kelley told Bausch the city had the right to review his documents and he instructed Bausch to give his documents to the city.
After a court order in May, The Tribune finally received its first batch of records in June — around eight months after it first request for Bausch’s communications with key players in the alleged conspiracy to oust Lewis from his position as the city’s top administrator and ruin his reputation. The final batch of records, which showed gaps at key points, was released in July.
Ultimately, Bausch turned over 972 emails and 3,524 texts over the course of two years from December 2022 to March.
The emails and texts showed Bausch having close personal relationships with several people involved in the alleged conspiracy, including texts where parties contend they should pretend to not know one another in relation to potential litigation against the city.
They also showed him working with Velie to help Glenn O’Hagan, another alleged conspirator, in his ultimately failed bid for City Council. Texts also revealed he and Gary Lehrer worked together to have an audio recording he leaked to Cal Coast News edited after it was published.
Settlement includes release of investigative report summary
According to the settlement agreement, which was signed by all parties on Monday, The Tribune will receive the unredacted executive summary three days before it can be released to Bausch or other members of the public.
That document will round up the findings from the independent investigator who looked into Lewis’ allegations, but it’s not the full report.
Despite the litigation, the city refused multiple requests to release the entire document.
“Access to public records is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state, and if you have an educated public that knows what their government officials are doing, they’re going to be able to save a lot of taxpayer money by having input into what the government is up to,” Olson said.
To that point, the agreement means the city has now spent well in excess of $643,000 settling the claims and lawsuit related to Lewis’ harassment allegations, including the nearly $366,000 Lewis received in March.
That total is likely much higher, as it does not include the city’s own expenses for its legal representation in the case.
This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 12:24 PM.
