Grand Jury Asks for Audit of D.A.’s Office

The Orange County Grand Jury is seeking $85,000 to conduct a management audit of the district attorney’s office in a move the foreman said Monday is routine and unrelated to several high-profile prosecutions.

The Board of Supervisors will decide next month whether to approve the funding request when it votes on the 1996-97 budget.

The district attorney’s office has been criticized in recent months for its prosecution of Assemblyman Scott Baugh (R-Huntington Beach) on voter fraud charges and three top county officials on misconduct charges for allegedly failing to prevent the December 1994 bankruptcy.

But Donald W. Wecker, the grand jury foreman, said the audit is being proposed only because the panel has never conducted a management review of the district attorney’s office.

“This is not in response to any specific issue or complaint,” Wecker said. “We don’t want the media thinking that we are investigating some individual for suspected malfeasance. That’s not the case. It’s just a general audit.”

The grand jury selected Price Waterhouse, which is expected to take four months to complete the study if funding is granted. The district attorney’s office used the firm several years ago for an audit of its family law division.

Wecker said the audit will examine the organizational structure of the office and compare its performance to counterparts in other counties.

Maurice Evans, the chief assistant district attorney, said his office welcomed the review.

“In the 23 years I’ve been here, I cannot recall an office audit,” he said.

“We have no problem with it and will cooperate fully.”