Boyd Pleads Guilty to Felony Conflict-of-Interest Charge

Former Seal Beach Councilman Shawn Boyd pleaded guilty Friday to a felony conflict-of-interest charge that will bar him from ever seeking public office.

Boyd, 34, made no comment after his brief appearance before Superior Court Judge Ronald P. Kreber.

He is the second Orange County politician this year to become a convicted felon for using his office for financial gain. Former Huntington Beach Councilman Dave Garofalo pleaded guilty to a felony and 15 misdemeanors in January for voting on matters benefiting companies that bought advertising from his publishing business.

Last week, Laguna Beach Mayor Wayne Baglin pleaded not guilty to a similar charge stemming from his work as a real estate broker on behalf of the sellers of two properties the city bought last year.

Boyd admitted hiding his financial relationship with Richard Hall, the owner of the Seal Beach Trailer Park, who made a $4.5-million profit after the city financed the park’s sale last year to a nonprofit group.

Kreber placed Boyd on formal probation for three years. He was ordered to pay nearly $50,000 in fines, including $25,000 previously ordered for eight political reporting violations. He also admitted to state tax evasion for failing to reveal a portion of his six-figure income while working as a consultant for Hall.

“I would have liked to see him do jail time,” said Seal Beach activist Laura Brecht, who filed a complaint against Boyd with Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas. “He’s shown no remorse. He owes the citizens of Seal Beach an apology.”

Brecht said she became suspicious after Hall raised his asking price for the trailer park by $2 million. Investigators later said Boyd alerted Hall to additional city financing available for the purchase. Hall bought the park in December 1998 for $2.9 million and sold it for $7.45 million two years later.

Boyd lost his bid for reelection in March after serving a four-year term.