We ask the Washington State Archives’ Records Management Division, the Washington State Auditor’s Office, and the Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney to independently review whether members of the Wenatchee Valley College Board of Trustees deleted, destroyed, concealed, or failed to preserve public-business text messages.

Records produced by WVC raise questions about whether trustee communications were properly retained, searched, and disclosed. These concerns include:

• WVC’s recent statement that certain November 2025 text messages involving Diana Garza were not retained.
  
  
• Paula Arno Martinez’s attestation that she had no responsive text messages, even though a separate production from Maria Iñiguez’s phone appears to contain communications involving Martinez.
  
  
• Similar questions concerning Tamra Jackson, including a produced communication in which Wilma Cartagena reportedly stated that she had texted Jackson.

These circumstances do not prove that any person intentionally destroyed a public record or committed a crime. They do, however, justify an independent review of the preservation practices, searches, devices, accounts, attestations, retention decisions, and possible deletion of public-business communications involving every WVC trustee.

Washington’s public-records preservation requirements are contained in Chapter 40.14 RCW. Under RCW 40.14.060, destruction of official public records must occur pursuant to an approved records-retention schedule.

The Attorney General’s advisory guidance in WAC 44-14-03005 warns that indiscriminate automatic deletion may prevent an agency from complying with its retention duties and explains that records responsive to a public-records request, or subject to actual or anticipated litigation, must be preserved.

Depending on the evidence and the required legal elements, possible intentional destruction or concealment could implicate:

• RCW 40.16.010, concerning the willful and unlawful destruction, concealment, alteration, or removal of a record deposited in a public office or with a public officer.
  
  
• RCW 40.16.020, concerning an officer who destroys, conceals, erases, obliterates, or falsifies a record appertaining to that officer’s office.
  
  
• Under RCW 36.27.020, the county prosecuting attorney is responsible for prosecuting criminal actions on behalf of the State and may institute proceedings when informed that a suspected felony has occurred.

By signing this petition, you support asking these agencies to:

1. Independently examine WVC’s preservation and retention of trustee text messages.
2. Determine whether public records were deleted contrary to an approved retention schedule or while subject to a public-records request or litigation-preservation obligation.
3. Review the accuracy and adequacy of WVC’s searches and no-records attestations.
4. Preserve and examine relevant devices, accounts, backups, search documentation, retention records, and deletion information where legally authorized.
5. Refer any credible evidence of intentional destruction, concealment, or falsification to law enforcement and the Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney.
6. Ask the Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney to evaluate any properly submitted criminal referral under RCW 40.16.010, RCW 40.16.020, or other applicable law.

This petition does not presume guilt. It asks for an impartial review, preservation of the available evidence, and a public determination of whether Washington’s records-retention or criminal laws were violated.

Read the supporting article and review the source documents:

https://wenatcheevalleycollege.com/retention.html