Robert Scrivner says his father pointed a gun directly at his face during a violent confrontation at the family home.
The 17-year-old son of former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner, 52, spoke to KGET about the April 23, 2024 incident that has since shattered one of California’s more prominent Republican political families. Robert told the Bakersfield station that his younger sister came downstairs crying that evening and told him their father had molested her. He confronted Zack, and the situation spiraled into violence that Robert said ended with his father holding a firearm inches from him.
“For some miraculous reason, he didn’t shoot me,” Robert told KGET. “He had his gun right in my face. At that moment, I was just frozen.”
Robert said he stabbed his father with a pocket knife during the struggle, and the two tumbled down the stairs before the standoff with the weapon. He also alleged that members of his extended family attempted to suppress what happened. His grandmother, Kathy Scrivner, initially told him and his brother that they did not have to disclose the full details to sheriff’s deputies, according to Robert.
Christina Scrivner, who had separated from Zack six months before the incident, told KGET she centered her efforts on protecting her children and pursuing accountability through the legal system.
“I think the truth matters,” Christina said. “I was primarily focused on the safety and security of my children. Secondly, I did want to pursue justice for them.”
Christina took the children to the Jamison Center, where forensic investigators conducted interviews with them. Both she and Robert have since expressed frustration with the outcome of the prosecution. In February 2025, Zack Scrivner was charged with child abuse and illegal possession of assault weapons, but he was not charged with any sex crime despite the molestation allegations. The California Attorney General’s Office has stated it filed only the charges it believed it could prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
Zack Scrivner was permitted into a mental health diversion program, which allows for dismissal of his case if he completes requirements including weekly therapy, medication when needed, employment, and regular drug testing. Robert and Christina both told KGET they believe the legal system failed their family.
“I just wanted to get justice for my family,” Robert told KGET, “and I wanted my story to be heard for lawmakers to make the right decisions.”
The father and son’s confrontation capped a political implosion years in the making. Zack Scrivner spent seven years on the Bakersfield City Council and 14 years on the Kern County Board of Supervisors, building influence that extended to Sacramento and Washington. He served as a district director for a state assemblymember and worked as a field representative and protégé of Kevin McCarthy, who would later rise to Speaker of the House.
Robert and Christina have channeled their grievances into legislative action. The pair traveled to Sacramento to push for changes to California law, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2273, known as the SCRIVNER Act. The new law requires prosecutors to explain on the record why certain charges that could make a defendant ineligible for diversion were not pursued despite allegations and supporting facts.