La Mesa

A $27,725 spending spree courtesy of a Grossmont College credit card led two more people to plead no contest Thursday to grand theft.

David Brooks, 19, the former executive secretary to the Associated Students of Grossmont College, and Peggy Klecha, 46, a secretary in the ASGC office, will be sentenced Aug. 30.

Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos agreed that the felony offense be reduced to a misdemeanor once they have paid an agreed-upon figure of restitution.

Klecha’s attorney, Evelyn Goldman, presented a $4,000 check to the Grossmont College student body president, Peter Kanelos, which was an amount both sides agreed she owed.

Brooks’ share of the spending binge was estimated at $8,500, according to both sides.

Two other former student leaders, the former president, Michael Bang, 27, and former vice president, Larry Humpal, 27, are both in County Jail serving terms for grand theft.

The group charged lavish parties, food, and drinks at the Beverly Hills Hotel June 25-July 2, 1987, on a college American Express credit card.

Members of the group had daily massages, hair styling, duck pate in their $450-per-night rooms, goose pate at the pool beside their $150-a-day cabanas, and rented Mercedes-Benz cars with telephones.

Attorney Jerry Varon, representing the ASGC, announced the settlement of the civil suit in which Klecha and Brooks agreed to repay the college for the credit-card slips they signed.

“I’m satisfied it’s a good step towards restitution towards ASGC,” said Kanelos.

“This is the first settlement we’ve reached on the lawsuit,” said the student body president.

With interest, the ASGC owes $41,000 to American Express, which has turned over the account to a collection agency.

Still pending is the lawsuit against Bang and Humpal. Bang, who has changed his name to Michael Humbert, is serving a one-year term, and Humpal, who is Klecha’s son, is serving six months.

The maximum sentence Brooks and Klecha face is three years in state prison and a $10,000 fine. However, it’s unlikely they will be sentenced to more than Bang or Humpal.