Former Official Sentenced for Using Phony Diploma

Kevin DeWitt, the county’s former mental health administrator, was sentenced Thursday to 120 days in jail and placed on three years probation for using a phony doctoral diploma and bogus transcripts to land his job.

The 40-year-old Camarillo resident pleaded guilty last month to a single felony count of using forged documents in 1996 to obtain an $83,000-a-year position as the county’s deputy director of behavioral health.

DeWitt faced up to three years in prison and the possibility of having to repay more than $240,000 in wages earned over three years.

But Superior Court Judge Bruce A. Clark was swayed by arguments that DeWitt earned his pay, despite the phony credentials.

“He was a good employee for the county of Ventura, and they received value for the salary they paid him,” Clark said before handing down the sentence.

DeWitt, now a gym instructor, was ordered to pay $200 to a state restitution fund. Clark also ordered him to report to county jail May 15 to begin serving his sentence, a term that could be reduced to 90 days for good behavior.

DeWitt refused to comment.