Battery Charges Weighed Against Convicted Trustee

Ventura County Community College District Trustee James T. (Tom) Ely is the target of another inquiry by the district attorney’s office, this time for a scuffle he had with a newspaper photographer after learning that he and his wife had been convicted of embezzlement and conspiracy.

Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury said Wednesday that his office is reviewing police reports to determine whether to file battery charges against Ely.

“Like any other crime of violence, we review it and determine if the facts are sufficient to bring charges,” Bradbury said.

Bradbury said he expects to make a decision today.

The confrontation between Ely and Ventura County Star-Free Press photographer Victoria Sayer erupted Tuesday afternoon in a county probation office, where the Elys were trying to hide from reporters.

Sayer stepped into the office and began taking pictures of the pair over Tom Ely’s angry objections.

Ely then lunged at Sayer, grabbed her camera and threw it to the floor. In an attempt to crush her camera, he stomped her foot with the heel of one of his cowboy boots.

Ely then rejoined his wife, who was crying quietly behind a pillar in the office.

“Now she’s over there acting like a martyr,” Ely said of Sayer.

Sayer, who was wearing soft-leather moccasins, had a doctor examine her foot, which was diagnosed as bruised.

On Wednesday, Ely defended his actions.

“My primary concern was Ingrid,” Ely said. “She was sobbing and coming unglued” after learning of the conviction.

The jury found Tom Ely guilty of 29 counts of fraud, embezzlement and conspiracy. Ingrid Ely was found guilty of one count each of grand theft, conspiracy and embezzlement.

“Ingrid’s blood pressure was going up and up,” Tom Ely said. He said his wife has high blood pressure and has been warned by physicians that she could be in danger of having a stroke.

As a result, Ely said he “asked for a little privacy.”

“She just challenged it by insisting on taking pictures,” Ely said. “I found her conduct extremely assaultive.”

But Ely said that he never intended to hurt the woman, that she simply got in the way. “If I was trying to assault anyone, I could have done a better job of it,” he said.