Intern Claims Misconduct at Natural History Museum

A student intern at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History charged Tuesday that officials have disposed of part of the museum’s collection of plant and bird specimens and that county workers have been ordered to work on remodeling the museum director’s home.

Sherri Gust made the charges during the public comment period of the weekly meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Museum Director Craig Black was on vacation Tuesday and unavailable for comment. Other department officials declined to respond.

Gust, a volunteer research assistant, told supervisors that county carpenters and electricians had been called upon to work on Black’s personal residence. She also said museum officials were selling the collection of bird specimens and that workers had found plant specimens in the trash. Supervisors asked the chief administrative office and auditor-controller to investigate.

Gust said that county officials ordered her to turn in the keys to her office Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after appearing before the supervisors.