S. Pasadena Official Faces Embezzlement Charge

South Pasadena Assistant City Manager Charles M. Conn was in Los Angeles County Jail on Thursday after his arrest on suspicion of embezzling public funds from a professional association for municipal transit administrators.

Conn, 46, who was president of the Assn. of Local Transit Administrators in 1994 when it dissolved, is suspected of taking between $7,000 and $10,000 this year from the organization funded by about 50 Southern California cities whose professional staff were members, police said.

His arrest Wednesday afternoon is the second embarrassment in as many days for this generally quiet city. It was rocked earlier this week by news of a sex scandal involving a woman who said she carried on a sexual affair with two police officers.

“I’ve been with the city of South Pasadena for two months, met many fine and dedicated employees and it is a very sorrowful time for all,” said Interim City Manager Linda Holmes. “We will continue to do our best to provide the quality of service our citizens deserve. When we have found problems in our organization, we have acted quickly.”

Conn, who also heads the city’s personnel department, was booked on felony charges of grand theft and embezzlement by a public official of public funds, said South Pasadena Police Chief Thomas Mahoney. A police report on Conn’s arrest was not available yet, said Mahoney, whose department conducted the investigation.

A felony complaint alleges that Conn, between March 2 and May 28 of this year, unlawfully appropriated checks and money of more than $400 from the association on four occasions.

City officials said they did not know if Conn has a lawyer.

Conn, who lives in Chino Hills, remained in County Jail on Thursday in lieu of $50,000 bail and has been placed on paid administrative leave, officials said. He could be arraigned today at the Pasadena courthouse.

Officials from other area cities who once headed the transit association said they had been questioned about Conn’s activities.

“I was requested by the city of South Pasadena to provide information,” said Christine Montan, an assistant to Alhambra’s city manager, who once headed the transit organization.

Montan said Conn was the president of the association in 1993-94, before it disbanded at the end of his term. She said the organization was formed about 11 years ago so administrators could discuss transportation issues; each city used public funds to pay its staff members’ fees and annual conference dues. “Some money may have accumulated over the years,” she said.

Conn began working for South Pasadena in 1987 and rose to assistant city manager four years ago. He oversaw all personnel matters, risk management, transportation proposition funds and grant monies.

In the other case causing embarrassment to the city, the 28-year-old woman says she carried on a sexual affair with two police officers, whom she met for trysts in police vehicles, according to legal documents. Mayor Dorothy Cohen defended her city Thursday. “South Pasadena is still a wonderful place to live, populated by wonderful people,” she said.