Moorpark Official Faces Felony Charge

Moorpark school board member Chris Evans has been charged with a single count of grand theft for allegedly misappropriating more than $12,000 from an employer and customers.

Evans, 45, is accused of felony grand theft regarding three checks exceeding $11,000 written to his consulting company for money owed to ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings, where he was district manager of the company’s North Hollywood and Fullerton stores. Three additional referral checks, totaling less than $1,000, that should have gone to others were deposited in Evans’ personal account, according to court documents.

Defense attorney Alan Baum of Studio City called the matter a misunderstanding and said his client had permission to process certain ProSource orders through his private company. When Evans fell behind in payments, ProSource took the matter to the police.

“Chris has got the money. It’s not like he was stealing to pay his home mortgage or anything,” Baum said. “This was a misunderstanding.”

A hearing is scheduled July 15 to determine whether Evans will fight the charge or arrange to pay restitution and settle the case. His June 12 arraignment was postponed to permit him to participate in the Los Angeles County district attorney’s early disposition program.

Evans, a former Moorpark City Council member who was elected to the school board in November, was arrested May 7 and is free on bail. Baum said he will seek to have the criminal charge dismissed or reduced to a misdemeanor.