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Controversy Surrounding Monrovia Councilman Spicer Grows
Monrovia Weekly Jun 30, 2012
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Controversy Surrounding Monrovia Councilman Spicer Grows
By Susan Motander and Terry Miller
Larry Spicer, was sworn into the Monrovia council January 2012 . He joined the council as a temporary replacement for Clarence Shaw who is on active military duty. Spicer is still, however, an unknown commodity to in the community. To others, his is a well known face and not everyone is happy that he is on council, albeit temporarily.
Spicer was raised in Monrovia attending Huntington Elementary School and Clifton Junior High before graduating from Monrovia High School in 1973. After graduation he joined the United States Army and served until 1976. After a few years working in construction he reenlisted in the Army and served until 1994.
In recent weeks this newspaper has reported on numerous public comment made regarding Spicer, some in the community defending him, and others admonishing Spicer, particularly with regard to accusations of being a bully and charges of spousal abuse and possible child endangerment.
We have also received numerous phone calls and emails regarding this story which was originally reported by Susan Motander. We reported on the incident cited by Mike Vallejo at a Council Meeting. All parties involved denied that there was spousal abuse in the incident of spraying which what Vallejo had called a “high power hose” and which those involved and the independent witness said was a garden hose.
Later we received a copy of a report obtained from an on-line investigative agency. Council Member Adams sent us a report from a USA People Search. We are not aware of who paid for this search. This report showed a traffic citation for failure to yield filed in 1999 and a Municipal Court Case from the Santa Anita Municipal Court in 1998 273 (B) of the penal code.
Since that time, the Municipal Courts have been consolidated with the Superior Court. In an effort to get to the facts, we did some research with the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
This newspaper has obtained records from the Los Angeles Courts of a number of incidents dating from 1983 – 1998 in which Larry Spicer was charged with 3 counts ( 273.B ; 243 (E) (1); and 242 of the California Penal code.) On the third count, Spicer was found guilty and convicted on 12/07/1998. The crime occurred on 10/07/1998.
We contacted Spicer for comment and he said he didn’t believe that he was convicted of the crime despite the record showing otherwise. Spicer told Monrovia Weekly , “ I pushed my wife and whooped my kid.” Asking for specific clarification on what a ‘whooped my kid’ actually meant, Spicer told this newspaper that he “spanked her ( his daughter) across the buttocks with a belt.” According to court records, it is estimated that the daughter was between 4 and 5-years-old at the time of his conviction.
Additionally, this newspaper has learned that Spicer was charged with forgery – Penal code 484 F (2) in 1981. The case was dismissed after a period of probation on July 23, 1992.
We asked Spicer if he told Monrovia Council about this and other charges prior to his appointment . He replied “I don’t believe I did. No, I didn’t tell them. I wasn’t asked” Spicer said that, on the forgery charge, he had used his bother’s credit card.
We contacted Mayor Mary Ann Lutz for clarification on this story and she told the Weekly that Spicer’s present day record of community volunteerism was one of the deciding factors in the temporary appointment.
When they were going through the process, council did not ask him about specific criminal charges such as forgery. Mayor Lutz said the community should look at Spicer’s excellent military record and not focus on incidents that were ‘dismissed’ many years ago and vehemently defended Spicer’s character as beyond reproach.
She added that these charges against Spicer stem back some 30 years and that the community should look at his community spirit and work which speaks for itself.
Planning Commissioner Glen Owens agreed and said it’s “ too bad that someone’s past has to catch up with him” in this manner and has absolutely “no indication of character flaws with Larry Spicer’s service to this community while serving on the Planning Commission.”
Owens did indicate, however, that he felt disheartened with the way council is going and how this particular appointment was made .
Councilman Tom Adams agrees, however was somewhat more adamant about Spicer’s record. He voted against Spicer’s appointment hoping to see more candidates before such a decision was made.
“ He’s (Spicer) not a nice guy.” Adams told the Weekly on Friday afternoon . Adams said “there is an unmistakable pattern of bullying.” Adams also referred to the community “ chatter” about Spicer’s alleged pattern of bullying and asked why the Mayor Mary Ann Lutz would take such a strong position on anti-bullying and yet appoint ‘a bully’ to a council position, albeit temporarily.
Spicer’s list of volunteer activities is long. He was appointed to Monrovia’s Planning Commission in 2010. He has worked with the city on its Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) program which he describes as a way to “encourage citizens to improve their own neighborhoods.” MAP works in specifically designated areas in the city.
Spicer is also a member of the Board of the Duarte Hawks, a football program for youth aged 6 and up. For the last 3 or 4 years he has also been a Red Cross Volunteer. He also serves on the Board of Make a Difference Day in Monrovia.
Spicer was appointed to fill the seat left temporarily vacant while Council Member Clarence Shaw is on active duty with the Army Reserve. Spicer and Shaw first became friends when working together in the military.
Another criminal case involved a Penal Code 21352 (Driving Under the Influence ) on May 26, 1983 and that matter was disposed of on July 23, 1992 .
Larry Spicer told this newspaper that feels he’s learned something from the 1998 incident “People do change,” Spicer said.
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