Palmdale Man Charged With Accepting Bribe
A Palmdale man was charged in Antelope Municipal Court on Tuesday with accepting a bribe in exchange for falsely certifying that a man had completed court-ordered community service.
Donald E. Price, 55, was charged with one felony count of preparing a false document and one misdemeanor count of commercial bribery.
Price was manager of the Palmdale Fin & Feather Club, a private group that maintains Lake Palmdale, and was responsible for certifying that a physician convicted of drunk driving had performed about 160 hours of community service. Prosecutors say Price accepted a $160 bribe last July in exchange for falsely certifying that the work took place.
The physician, who told authorities of the alleged scam, will not be charged. Prosecutors believe Price may have provided similar service for others.
Price, who has since been fired, was already being sought for the alleged theft of a gun and remained at large Tuesday. Prosecutors said the club, which regularly supervises court-ordered community service work, has subsequently tightened its procedures.
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