School Board Member Accused of Theft Resigns

Moorpark school board member Chris Evans has resigned after pleading no contest in a grand theft case and agreeing to repay more than $50,000 he was accused of misappropriating from a former employer.

Evans, 45, gave school district officials his resignation letter hours after entering his plea Thursday before Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Jessica Silvers.

Based on an arrangement negotiated by Evans and his attorney, Silvers is expected to give the former Moorpark city councilman a three-year suspended prison term and probation when he is sentenced Dec. 22, according to prosecutors.

However, if Evans, who has already repaid $4,200, does not pay the remaining $48,000 in restitution by Dec. 22, he would spend 90 days in jail and have through 2006 to pay the debt, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan Bershin.

Evans’ prison sentence would take effect if he violated parole, Bershin added.

Evans’ attorney is holding $17,000 that is to be turned over to ProSource Wholesale Floorcovering next week, the prosecutor said. Evans worked as a district manager for ProSource in North Hollywood.

Bershin said $25,100 of the restitution would go to ProSource’s insurance company, which has already settled a claim for the loss.

“It was not an easy decision for Chris to make, and suffer a felony conviction,” said his attorney, Alan Baum of Studio City. “He decided his family had been through enough.”

Baum said Evans still disputed the amount ProSource said it lost, but agreed to a settlement rather than spending additional legal fees fighting the accusations. “This will make it a lot easier for him and his family to move on,” Baum said.

Moorpark Unified School District Supt. Frank DePasquale said Friday that a special school board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday to discuss how to handle the sudden vacancy.

Options include appointing a replacement, holding a special election or leaving the post unfilled until the next general election.