Mariposa County, home to the iconic Yosemite National Park, has found itself thrust into the spotlight for reasons far from its scenic vistas. In a series of dramatic developments, the county’s district attorney, Mike McAfee, abruptly resigned on August 11, 2025, following allegations that he repeatedly purchased methamphetamine from a Merced man he once prosecuted and later defended. The fallout has rippled through the local justice system, forcing a scramble for leadership and raising questions about ethics, accountability, and the pressures faced by small-town public servants.
According to the Mariposa Gazette, the saga began to unfold publicly when the newspaper handed over more than 30 text messages to Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese. The texts, provided by Gary Schisnewski, a 49-year-old Merced resident with a lengthy criminal history, appeared to show McAfee arranging methamphetamine purchases over a two-year period. Schisnewski told the Gazette he sold meth to McAfee “40 or 50 times,” describing a relationship that began in 2017 when McAfee prosecuted him on a drug paraphernalia charge and later, in private practice, defended him in a separate case. Their professional relationship eventually turned personal, with the two even golfing together before McAfee allegedly became Schisnewski’s only customer.
In the texts, McAfee used coded language such as asking for “the usual energy pack” or “a little pick me up,” often arranging for Schisnewski to leave the drugs under the doormat of his Merced home or to meet him along his commute. On at least one occasion, McAfee allegedly requested a meeting at a local middle school for a handoff, as reported by SFGATE.
The relationship soured earlier in 2025. On June 8, McAfee sent Schisnewski a threatening text: “I’ll have you in cuffs with no bail in Mariposa jail,” according to the Gazette. Schisnewski told the paper, “I felt I had to [sell drugs] or he would’ve f---ed with me.” McAfee, when interviewed, did not deny sending the texts but insisted, “I told him to back off. I never said I’d put him in jail.” When pressed by the Gazette about whether he bought meth from Schisnewski, McAfee replied, “I’m not going to give that credence or answer such a stupid question.”
The situation escalated quickly after the texts came to light. On August 7, the Gazette delivered the texts to Sheriff Briese, who immediately contacted the California Attorney General’s Office—a standard move when a district attorney is under criminal investigation. The very next day, a team of six agents from the Merced Area Gang and Narcotic Enforcement Team executed a warrant and seized Schisnewski’s phone, although agents told him he was not the target of the investigation. Within days, McAfee resigned, with County Administrator Joe Lynch having asked him to go on administrative leave, as reported by the Gazette.
McAfee’s resignation sent shockwaves through the Mariposa County legal system. More than 20 criminal cases in Mariposa County Superior Court were delayed as officials scrambled to fill the sudden leadership vacuum. On August 12, the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed County Counsel Walter Wall to serve as interim district attorney. Wall, who had previously held the DA post before leaving in December 2024 for the higher-paying county counsel job, now found himself back in the role amid a cloud of controversy.
At a press conference on August 22, standing before the Mariposa County Courthouse, Wall announced he would resign as county counsel to dedicate himself fully to the district attorney position. “There are moments in life that we live through and that cause us to reflect on our better selves and where we may be of best service to our communities,” Wall said in prepared remarks, alluding to the recent turmoil but declining to address the McAfee allegations directly. He acknowledged that holding both jobs was fraught with potential conflicts of interest and unsustainable in the long term. The Board of Supervisors will soon vote on a new county counsel to replace Wall.
The financial realities of public service in Mariposa County also came into focus. The district attorney’s annual salary is $175,000, while the county counsel position pays $195,000—both figures well below statewide averages for such roles. The county is now conducting a comprehensive salary review, a move that may have broader implications for recruitment and retention of qualified officials in rural areas.
Despite the scandal and his abrupt departure, McAfee told the Gazette he is “absolutely” running for Mariposa District Attorney again in the 2026 election. Wall, for his part, confirmed he also intends to run. The coming election promises to be contentious, with voters likely weighing the fallout from the scandal, the candidates’ records, and the broader issue of public trust in the justice system.
Meanwhile, the California Attorney General’s Office now leads the investigation into McAfee’s alleged conduct. As of publication, neither the Sheriff’s Office nor the Attorney General’s Office has commented further on the case. Schisnewski, the alleged drug supplier, has a lengthy criminal record and multiple restraining orders, casting an additional layer of complexity over the proceedings. Agents made clear to him that he was not the target of the current investigation.
The scandal has left many residents and officials in Mariposa County grappling with difficult questions. How could the top law enforcement official in the county become entangled in such allegations? What safeguards might prevent such conflicts of interest in the future? The disruption to the court system, the uncertainty around leadership, and the pending investigation all underscore the challenges faced by small communities when scandal strikes at the heart of public trust.
As the dust settles, Mariposa County finds itself at a crossroads. The dual resignations, the delays in the courts, and the looming 2026 election all point to a period of reckoning and, perhaps, renewal. For now, the eyes of the community—and the state—remain fixed on the outcome of the investigation and the choices its leaders will make in the months ahead.
