Parole Board Member Quits, Admits Fraud

Percy Pinkney, who served in Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s Administration as special assistant for community relations, has resigned from his parole board post after admitting that he filed false expense claims, it has been reported.

Pinkney, 47, resigned from his $59,675-a-year job on the Youthful Offender Parole Board a week ago, said Robin Dezember, undersecretary for the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency.

Dezember said investigators had found “discrepancies” in Pinkney’s expense claims but would not say how much money was involved.

However, the Sacramento Bee reported Thursday that sources close to the investigation said Pinkney owed the state about $5,000, including $1,900 in personal telephone calls allegedly charged to a state credit card.

Dezember said Pinkney’s pay will be attached for repayment. Pinkney’s resignation takes effect May 31.

Asked whether criminal charges will be filed, Dezember said: “It’s not my place to judge whether there’s criminal activity. We’ve taken administrative action under our control.”

Pinkney was Brown’s special assistant for community relations and chief liaison with the black community. He was appointed chairman of the Youthful Offender Parole Board in the last year of Brown’s term as governor but reverted to a member’s status when Brown was succeeded by Gov. George Deukmejian. His term on the board would have expired next March.