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Featured Jun 08, 2012
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Mark Rocha, PCC President at the press conference - Photo by Terry Miller
PCC Administrators under Investigation by DA’s Office
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office served search warrants on the homes and offices of two top administrators at Pasadena City College Thursday morning according to PCC President Mark Rocha.
During an afternoon press conference, Rocha told reporters “ the search warrants were served early this morning in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation regarding violations of conflict of interest and similar laws.”
Photograph by Terry Miller
The target of the investigations: Richard Van Pelt, vice president of administrative services, and Al Hutchings, the college’s facilities services supervisor come on the heels of another DA investigation into SGVCOG on Monday in which another prominent member of the community , Nick Conway is under investigation. There is no evidence at the moment that the two cases are connected.
However it should be noted that Van Pelt was recently appointed by the college to a membership on the successor agency to Sierra Madre’s Redevelopment Agency.
College President Mark Rocha announced Thursday afternoon that both men have been placed on immediate administrative leave.
Investigators with the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation served search warrants Thursday at three locations — Pasadena City College and the homes of two administrators — Al Hutchings and Richard Van Pelt. The warrants were served as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of bribery. Because it is an ongoing investigation by the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division, according to the District Attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.
“A preliminary internal review of our books indicates that all funds are intact and properly accounted for,” Rocha said. He added that the college has hired an independent accounting firm for audit.
Rocha would not take questions after making the announcement and left the cap and gown room abruptly.
Rocha stressed that the college is conducting business as usual was obviously disturbed by the latest developments regarding two highly paid executives.
The investigation of Van Pelt and Hutchings is on the alleged solicitation of bribes in 2011 for a competitive contract for the school.
The DA received the complaint in March. No charges have yet been filed against the two men.
The D.A.’s office is also investigating possible conflicts of interest related to the men’s financial interests in other campus contracts.
If internal investigations reveal any misconduct or violation of district policy, Rocha will recommend to the college’s Board of Trustees that they be fired.
The allegations have “angered and saddened all of us, as I know it will for all of you who care about Pasadena City College,” Rocha said at the afternoon news conference.
