2 Charged With Theft, Conflict of Interest
A former Redondo Beach official and an ex-computer maintenance contractor have been charged with nine felony counts centering on theft and conflict-of-interest allegations, according to court records made public Wednesday.
Rick Garcia, 35, the city’s former director of information services, appeared Wednesday in Los Angeles Municipal Court and was released on his own recognizance. Arraignment was set for Monday.
Jaye Nelson, 31, who provided computer maintenance services to the department that Garcia headed, is due to surrender today to authorities.
In a complaint filed Monday, prosecutors accused each man of seven counts of misappropriation of funds as well as a sole count apiece of grand theft by embezzlement and of breaking conflict-of-interest laws. The charges follow police searches in April of offices at Redondo City Hall and other sites.
Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, declined to comment.
Nelson’s attorney, Mark Werksman, said: “I think the prosecution is politically motivated and they’re going after these guys with a vengeance.”
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