| For Immediate Release Case # 08CF2135
November 18, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
ORANGE COUNTY COURT CLERK CONVICTED OF FIXING TRAFFIC TICKETS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
SANTA ANA – A clerk in the traffic department of the Orange County Superior Court, who was entrusted with imputing data, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of altering public documents. Heidi Lynn Housel, 33, Anaheim, was convicted of fixing 18 tickets on behalf of family members and friends. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail, three years probation, and ordered to pay $3,954 in restitution. Housel is also prohibited from working for any government agency for the duration of her probation.
Between Dec. 1, 2005, and May 1, 2007, Housel violated her position of trust as a court clerk at the Central Justice Center by dismissing 18 traffic tickets issued to various family members and friends. She used her computer access at the computer station assigned to her to alter the public documents. A co-worker reported a suspicious dismissal of a ticket to her supervisor. An audit of the defendant’s user identification number revealed the unjustified dismissals.
Deputy District Attorney Andre Manssourian of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.
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