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Former Paradise, Butte County school transportation director accused of taking district property and misusing credit card
Prosecutors allege a former Paradise Unified transportation director took district hard drives and used a district credit card for camping supplies.
Paradise, Butte County California News - School district equipment and credit card purchases are at the center of a theft case against James Cameron Lopez, the former transportation director for Paradise Unified School District.
Lopez, 34, faces two felony grand theft charges. Prosecutors allege he took hard drives from the district's bus yard and used a district credit card to purchase camping supplies while avoiding police in September.
Authorities arrested Lopez on September 25th. He subsequently posted a $30,000 bail bond, according to information the Butte County District Attorney's Office provided to FOX40.
The investigation began with a separate report about a camera allegedly hidden in a bathroom at his Palermo area home. Investigators then identified concerns involving district property, credit card use and a firearm allegedly kept in a vehicle driven to work. The Butte County Sheriff's Office and Paradise police obtained arrest warrants.
The filed theft case and the remaining investigation are at different stages. It was reported that prosecutors were still awaiting investigative work involving the camera, suspected child sexual abuse material and the firearm allegation. Additional charges were anticipated by November 20th, but that expectation does not establish that they have been filed.
Lopez's first court appearance was scheduled for November 20th at 8:30 a.m. in Butte County Superior Court, according to the report.
The allegations have not been proven in court. Lopez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sources
FOX40 reporting by Jacque Porter, republished by AOL: background on the September investigation.