Ontario County officials are facing scrutiny after an internal investigation revealed that employees in the District Attorney’s Office drank alcohol, sang karaoke in a courtroom, and decorated offices with provocative themes during a staff party held on Election Day.
The party, known as “Fall Fest,” was part of a larger inquiry prompted by a complaint received by the county’s Human Resources Department. The investigation confirmed that employees consumed alcohol during work hours, brought drinks into courtrooms, and left work early without using paid leave.
The theme for Fall Fest 2024 was “Anthony,” with some participants dressed as Tony Award-winning musicals and others dressed as murderers or serial killers associated with the name Tony.
According to the report, one employee decorated the office as a fictional strip club from “The Sopranos,” with decorations including “a large pile of white powder on a desk” made to look like cocaine. Costumes included employees dressed as strippers, Hannibal Lecter in a prison jumpsuit and District Attorney Jim Ritts dressed as a character from “The Book of Mormon.”
13WHAM News obtained an 18-page, heavily redacted report that shed light on Fall Fest, held on Election Day — a paid holiday for state employees but not for county employees.
County Administrator Chris DeBolt confirmed the report’s release followed a Freedom of Information Law request:
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