Ex-Moorpark Official Receives 3 Years’ Probation

A former Moorpark school board member and councilman received three years’ probation Wednesday in a grand-theft case involving his ex-employer.

Chris Evans, 46, pleaded no contest in August and agreed to repay more than $52,000 to settle the matter. That same day he resigned his seat on the Moorpark Unified School District board.

Evans later was given 120 days by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Jessica Silvers to make full restitution.

“Everybody’s been paid in full, the court placed him on probation and he’s going to put this behind him,” said Evans’ attorney, Alan Baum, in Woodland Hills.

Evans was charged with a single count of felony grand theft for misappropriating funds from ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings, where he was district manager of two company stores. He was accused of having checks written to his consulting company for money owed to ProSource and for depositing into his personal account referral checks that should have gone to others.

“This case was always borderline insofar as whether he had any criminal intent. He had the authority to do business outside of the company structure, and that’s what he was doing,” Baum said.

“The company wound up, I think, kind of changing the rules and pulled the plug leaving him behind in his invoices. He never intended not to pay the invoices.”

The anticipated cost of going to trial and the stress it would have placed on him and his family led Evans to accept the plea agreement, Baum said.

Evans received a three-year suspended state prison sentence, which would take effect if he violates parole. He was also ordered to pay a $2,000 restitution fine.

The former city official has not expressed an interest in returning to public service, according to Baum, who said Evans has resumed working as a coordinator of bridal shows.