El Cajon

Former Grossmont College student body president Michael Bang made his first court appearance Thursday since he fled the state after being released into a private work-furlough center.

Bang, 27, faced San Diego Municipal Judge H. Ronald Domnitz, the same judge who released him on his promise to pay the college $20,500 for a wild spending spree.

Bang was arrested Sept. 1 in Houston after he was traced there by the district attorney’s office. He waived extradition and returned to San Diego by plane under guard Wednesday afternoon.

Bang could receive three years in state prison if Domnitz finds he violated his probation.

Because Bang did not have an attorney present, the matter was delayed until Wednesday, when an attorney will be appointed.

Bang and three others charged $27,725 on a college credit card with lavish parties and high living at a Beverly Hills hotel in June, 1987.

Meanwhile, the former secretary to the Associated Students of Grossmont College, Peggy Klecha, 46, of El Cajon, was placed on three years’ probation Thursday for her role in the spending spree.

Klecha paid $4,000 to the college, which both sides said was her share of the bill, which has since hit $41,000, including interest.

Because she has paid restitution, her grand-theft conviction was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor by San Diego Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos.

Exarhos ordered her to perform 30 days of public service.

Also attending the sentencing was Klecha’s son, Larry Humpal, 27, who was the vice president of the student body and who served almost 2 1/2 months in County Jail.

Domnitz originally sentenced Humpal to six months but reduced the term to allow him to attend the University of Southern California on an academic scholarship. Humpal also promised to begin payments to the school at $350 a month beginning Oct. 15.

Klecha’s sentence was the same as the one handed down to a fourth co-defendant, David Brooks, 19, on Monday. Brooks was the former executive secretary on the student group.

All four were convicted of grand theft by their no-contest or guilty pleas.