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LA County Grand Jury Requested To Investigate Central Basin Water President James Roybal

By Brian Hews  (3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, 2013)

The Central Basin Municipal Water District Ethics Committee has voted to ask the Los Angeles County Grand Jury to investigate Director James Roybal’s involvement in leaking confidential documents to reporter Mike Sprague who works for the Whittier Daily News.

The vote for the review was made by Central Basin Water Board Directors Phil Hawkins of Cerritos and Art Chacon of Commerce.

Hews Media Group-Community News received a copy of a response letter written by Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey that confirmed that Central Basin Municipal Water District Board President Roybal leaked a confidential internal document to the Whittier Daily News pertaining to a closed session discussion about former Interim Chief Operating Officer Chuck Fuentes.

See letter here.

The letter was in response to a complaint sent to the DA that alleged improper disclosure of confidential information approved in a closed session, which is a violation of Government Code Section 54956.9.

The letter stated, “based upon a June 3 (2013) memorandum from (CBMWD GM) Tony Perez, it would appear the details of the agreement disclosed to the WDN were subject to confidentiality clause and were not to be released.” Fuentes was fired from the agency in December by a new voting Board majority that consists of Director Leticia Vasquez, Director Robert Apodaca and Roybal.

In the letter, the District Attorney declined to take action on the disclosure, referring the matter back to the embroiled agency that has been a focal point of a massive investigation by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the past several months.

The District Attorney cited the California Government Code 54963 that states “violations can result in disciplinary action against the employee who willfully disclosed confidential information and/or referral of the member to the grand jury.”

HMG-CN first reported on the situation back on August 6th.

 


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  • Jason Herrera says:

    This Roybal ass is a real scumbag. I watched a meeting online recently and this guy obviously has a Napoleon Complex. I have never seen a jackass so full of himself. What a disgrace he is. I hope the Grand Jury does the right thing and put this dog down.

  • Concerned Citizen says:

    All these clowns on the Water District board are connected to Calderon or Mendoza, two more corrupt clowns. Can we get all these career politicians out of office already? Sick of it!

  • Hector Reyes says:

    What a bunch of thugs. Southeast LA Politicians stink, it’s time to clean house. Get out your brooms voters!

  • Lee Irvin says:

    Easy Jason, I love Dogs so please don’t put these low life’s in the same category. I agree it’s time to clean house of all these punks. Started with Compton, then Bell, Vernon, Commerce, Industry, Compton again and now these free loaders at the water district. I hope you guys keep on their ASS! All of em need to go!

  • gilman says:

    I have a question for everyone – what gives the Ethics committee the authority to take any action? The committee is an advisory committee of the entire board and is charged with making recommendations for the entire board to act upon. No authority exists which gives them unilateral authority to direct staff, enter into contracts or expend public funds, etc., without first having the entire board vote upon the recommended action.

    Regardless of what you think of Roybal (and I am no fan) the facts suggest that he did not violate the Brown Act – a settlement agreement is a public record.

  • Wayne Carter Sr. says:

    Mr. Levin makes a great point. Had the circumstances been reversed and had Mr. Fuentes launched unflattering comments towards Mr. Roybal in the press, I am certain Mr. Roybal would have used his majority-strength to enforce the confidential agreement that the parties had entered into. Such use of muscle would have overwhelmed Mr. Fuentes and undoubtedly ruined any future chance of employment in government, and rightfully so I might add. So the same must be said about Mr.Roybal.

    Mr.Gilman, I would hope that you would respond to the arguments that Mr. Levin made. The bottom line is that Mr. Fuentes showed that he was the “professional” here while Mr. Roybal displayed behavior that has been consistent with much of his actions thus far as an elected official. Without hesitation, I have drawn the conclusion that Mr. Roybal’s actions, especially the unwarranted firing of Mr. Fuentes and Mr. Beilke was in fact, an effort to thwart scruntiny into much of the illegal actions that the FBI are now investigating.

    I invite everyone to join me in seeking the resignation of James Roybal based on his incompetence and tendency to display a willingness to partake in less than ethical activities.