MOORPARK : Ex-Official Cleared of Any Wrongdoing
Four weeks after the Moorpark City Council fired the chairman of the city Parks Commission over allegations that the Cinco de Mayo festival was mismanaged, the Ventura County district attorney’s office has cleared him of any criminal wrongdoing.
“Based on the information submitted to us, there was perhaps some poor management but not criminal conduct,” Special Assistant Dist. Atty. Don Coleman said Thursday.
Coleman’s office reviewed a 21-page report prepared by Moorpark city staff.
Lynn Crockatt, then chairman of the Parks Commission, came under fire for spending $3,178 more than the $12,000 allotted for the festival. The report also criticized Crockatt for paying performers with cash from ticket sales and for selling unnumbered tickets, which prevented an accurate accounting of money paid and received.
In response to criticism that the report was biased against Crockatt and his festival committee, the City Council voted June 12 to ask the district attorney’s office for an independent review.
A week later the council voted to fire Crockatt. Councilman Bernardo Perez cast the only vote against firing Crockatt, saying the city should wait for the review before taking action.
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