| For Immediate Release April 30, 2007 |
Contact: Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486 |
FORMER COUNTY SOCIAL WORKER CHARGED WITH STEALING MORE THAN $28,000 FROM THE COUNTY OF ORANGE AND CYPRESS COLLEGE BY DOUBLE TIMING WORK HOURS
SANTA ANA – A Cypress College professor and former Senior Social Worker for the County of Orange has been charged with theft for stealing more that $28,000 from the County and double timing the college over the course of two years. Carlos Sandoval, 36, Fountain Valley, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment today to two felony counts of grand theft by employee. Sandoval faces a maximum of three years and eight months in prison if convicted and is scheduled for pre-trial on May 31, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Between August 21, 2002 and June 24, 2004, Sandoval, a full time Senior Social Worker for the County of Orange, is accused of teaching classes full-time at Cypress College while still on the clock at his County job. He is accused of receiving full-time pay from the County of Orange, even though he was not working the hours that he claimed. Sandoval is accused of receiving more that $28,000 in pay for hours he did not work. The defendant is accused of working his second job as a full-time professor during County work hours without the permission or knowledge of his supervisors. Sandoval is accused of pretending that he had been working in the field to prevent the County from noticing his absence.
The defendant is also accused of stealing over $700 from Cypress College by putting in for paid personal necessity days and attending mandatory trainings for the County during that time. Cypress College personal necessity days do not accommodate second jobs. The defendant is still a professor at Cypress College and has received tenure.
“When government employees get paid for hours they did not work, they are cheating the taxpayers and hurting underprivileged families who need these services,” said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “We want to send a clear message that anyone perpetrating these types of crimes will be held accountable.”
Senior Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Olivieri of the Felony Projects Unit is prosecuting this case.
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