Camp Verde Mayor Charlie German, along with his lawyer, arrived at the Yavapai Superior Court in Camp Verde at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 10.
Former Councilwoman Carol German, the widow of Charlie German’s brother, was also present, but despite their personal connection, Carol and Charlie German have been at odds over numerous issues, including a dispute over the Camp Verde Town Council. Their personal animosity came to a head on April 11, when Carol German filed a protective order against Charlie German, accusing him of trespassing.
During the court hearing on May 10, Yavapai Superior Court Judge Don Stevens removed the court order, instead requiring that the two parties agree to a legally binding resolution. Charlie German agreed to no longer cross over into Carol German’s property for any reason, and if he did, it would be within Carol German’s rights to bring him back to court alleging contempt. Carol German agreed to back down on the legal threat.
“Even though the order of protection may go away, I’m imposing an agreement that you agree to and that constrains your behavior,” Stevens said.
The original order came in response to an incident on April 10, when Charlie German tried to remove a post from Carol German’s adjoining property. According to Charlie German, the post had been put there years ago by his mother when the two neighboring properties were both owned by his family. Since he is currently doing construction on his property to separate it from the soon-to-be-constructed Camp Verde Sports Complex, which will be next door, he decided to cross over and remove the old post.
Charlie German claims that he knocked on Carol German’s door, but she did not open the door. Since he only had the construction equipment as a rental for a short period of time, he chose to go ahead and take the post down. Carol German came out and confronted him. This led to shouting, and Carol German called the police.
According to the police report filed by Camp Verde Police Officer Dan Jacobs, as well as Carol German’s lawyer Elliot Alford, Carol German claims that the Charlie German began cursing at her.
“I think my client felt like she was threatened,” Alford said. Charlie German said he only yelled in order to be heard over the construction equipment.
“Neither of us swore. There were no swear words,” he said. “Being an elementary educator, that is something you just train yourself. You just don’t cross that line, and that’s never been a part of my vocabulary, except maybe when I was a sailor.”
The hearing on May 10 did not adjudicate the facts of the incident nor resolve the dispute over the altercation. The judge instead chose to seek a resolution that would not require an extended legal fight.
“I want to keep the peace. That’s what the purpose of this order is,” Stevens said. “I’m not making any factual or legal finding that you did something wrong. However unintentional it might have been, it had an unfortunate effect on her.”
“It has nothing to do with political anything,” said Carol German. “It’s just been escalating over the years.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
