A prominent strategist for the California Democratic Party is facing accusations of domestic abuse that include attempting to injure a 4-year-old girl, authorities said.
Nathan Ballard, 51, who was the communications director for Gov. Gavin Newsom when Newsom was the mayor of San Francisco, was charged with willful cruelty to a child creating possible injury or death, and domestic violence, Napa County Asst. District Attorney Paul Gero said. Those charges were filed formally on Thursday afternoon, he said.
The charges, first reported by Politico, stem from an Oct. 17 incident at a residence in the 4000 block of Sonoma Highway. The older victim in the case first reported the abuse on Oct. 18.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ballard on Oct. 20, two days after an arrest warrant was issued. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Henry Wofford said Ballard was arrested at agency headquarters after arriving with attorney Anthony Brass and refusing to make a statement.
“I am confident that my client, Nathan Ballard, will be fully acquitted of these charges after the District Attorney’s Office has a chance to review the facts and learn all sides of the story,” Brass said by text Thursday. “Nate is a well-respected professional and a member of the bar with a spotless ethical record. He has no criminal history. In his 51 years, Nate has never been accused of, arrested for, nor charged with any crime before these unsubstantiated allegations.”
A message left with Newsom’s office was not returned.
Wofford, citing documents in the case, said detectives arrived around 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 18 at the home to find that Ballard was not there. Authorities said the adult victim told them Ballard had shoved her with both of his arms in her upper chest and front shoulder area, causing her to hit her head on the door. She did not fall down, authorities said.
The adult victim told detectives that he then followed the 4-year-old girl into a bedroom. Ballard is accused of then grabbing a pillow from the bed, placing it on the child and laying down on it with his whole body and weight on the girl, Wofford said.
“The victim said it appeared (Ballard) was definitely trying to hurt the little girl,” Wofford said.
The older victim subsequently pushed Ballard aside, took the girl and a 3-year-old boy into another bedroom and locked the door, Wofford said.
Ballard did fall, authorities said, injuring his nose and forehead. Authorities said they believe he was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.
“Nate knows that he is not perfect, but he is facing his own challenges head-on,” Brass said. “After nearly eight years of sobriety, Nate resumed drinking in April after his father died. He is now clean and sober again, and he is currently in a residential recovery program to deal with his drinking problem in a responsible, comprehensive manner. He is a good father, he has his children’s best interests at heart, and he wants to resolve this matter privately, quickly and fairly for their sake.”
Ballard founded The Press Shop, a public relations agency. His bio points to a San Francisco Magazine issue that labeled him a “preeminent media whisperer” who represents “a veritable Yellow Pages of powerful clients.”
He also worked closely with San Francisco mayors Mark Farrell and Ed Lee.
Ballard posted $75,000 bail and is free from Napa County jail custody.
