Jail Term Revoked for Former College Trustee Dying of Cancer

At the behest of the district attorney’s office, a Ventura County judge has revoked the jail sentence of former community college trustee James T. (Tom) Ely because Ely is dying of cancer, an attorney in the case said.

“Mr. Ely is so sick that he couldn’t do the jail time anyway,” said James Farley, Ely’s lawyer.

Ely, 57, who was diagnosed with facial cancer in 1991 and has since had nearly half his face removed in an effort to retard the cancer’s growth, was convicted that same year of conspiring to steal more than $15,000 from the Ventura County Community College District by filing false claims and double-billing for expenses.

Ely’s sentence has so far been delayed, however, due to his faltering health. On Friday, Superior Court Judge Lawrence Storch repealed the sentence altogether at the request of Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol Nelson, who prosecuted the case, Farley said.

Nelson could not be reached for comment Saturday afternoon.

Ely’s wife, Ingrid, 50, was convicted with her husband in June, 1991. But criminal charges were dismissed in May after her conviction was overturned by an appellate court judge who ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove she knew her husband was billing the districts for trips for which she had accepted money.

The Elys now live in Vista in northern San Diego County, since their Simi Valley home was sold in the wake of a bankruptcy filing.