SIMI VALLEY : Ex-Rotary President Gets Probation

The former president of the Rancho Simi Rotary Club has been sentenced to three years’ probation for stealing $9,000 from the service organization, which raises money for charities.

Nicholas Wassil was ordered by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles McGrath on Monday to spend 30 days in a county work-release program and to pay restitution to the Rotary Club.

Although Wassil pleaded guilty earlier to one felony count of grand theft, the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, Deputy Dist. Atty. Peter Brown said.

Brown said he agreed to the reduced charge because Wassil had no previous record, had cooperated with authorities in their investigation and had been remorseful about his actions.

Wassil, who was unavailable for comment Tuesday, surrendered to authorities in December after learning that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. He was later released on his own recognizance.

Wassil’s attorney, Douglas Demaret, said his client now lives in Manhattan Beach, where he manages a restaurant. He said Wassil earns enough money to pay back the money he stole.

Demaret said Wassil had personal and financial problems at the time he began stealing from the club.

“It was one of those situations where there was a whole lot of pressures building up, and you had a nice, honest person who made some real poor choices,” he said.

Simi Valley police said they began investigating Wassil after receiving a tip from a Rotary Club member. The police did not reveal the informant’s name.

Wassil later admitted to embezzling the money from the club between February and June of 1990 while serving as the organization’s president.