Fair’s Ex-Manager Faces Reduced Charge

The former manager of the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster entered a plea of no contest Wednesday to a misdemeanor grand theft charge as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors to drop felony embezzlement charges.

C.W. Adams, 48, had been charged with embezzling public funds in the purchase of materials to build a $700 fence around his house in 1986 and to buy $500 worth of tires for two private vehicles in 1988. Adams, who retired as fair manager last April after budget irregularities surfaced, allegedly used fair funds in both instances.

Adams was also charged with altering fair records on the eve of an audit by state officials--the fair is under the auspices of the state--to conceal unpaid utility debts of more than $50,000, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

That charge was dropped in a hearing on Monday before Lancaster Municipal Court Judge Frank Jackson in exchange for Adams’ no contest plea to a single count of misdemeanor grand theft. Attorneys told the judge that Adams has agreed to pay back the embezzled $1,200 plus a fine of $1,000.

Because of Adams’ lack of prior offenses and the relatively small amount embezzled, prosecutors said they have also agreed to ask for no jail time when Adams appears for sentencing May 11. He could be sentenced to up to 60 days in jail.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen L. Cooley said a key factor in the reduction of charges was that in the most serious offense, the alteration of public records, Adams appeared to have been trying to make the fair’s finances look better, rather than to conceal a crime.

“It does not appear to have been done for fraudulent purposes for self-gain,” Cooley said. “But for the fact that we did file the one charge of falsification of an account of public monies, the case would probably not have been pursued as a felony, given the amounts taken.”

Adams declined to comment.