October 26, 2011 San Jacinto tow operator guilty of bribing college police chief www.privateofficer.com
Riverside County CA Oct 26 2011 A Riverside County Superior Court jury Monday convicted a San Jacinto tow operator of one count of bribery in connection with the offer of gifts to Mt. San Jacinto College’s now former police chief in exchange for business on and near the college’s two campuses.
Morgan McComas, 42, of Hemet, remains free on bond. McComas will be sentenced Dec. 12 before Judge Elisabeth Sichel.
He could face a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
The case revolved around whether McComas’ business practices at Pirot’s Towing involving then-Chief Kevin Segawa constituted a crime because they involved a government official. Over about a four-year period, Pirot’s received about 85 percent of the college’s tow business, according to testimony.
McComas admitted lying to a district attorney’s investigator at first, saying he was scared.
“His lies really trapped him,” Deputy District Attorney Abbie Marsh said. McComas admitted in testimony “that he did do this to influence the chief and he did understand that it benefited the chief,” Marsh said.
Testimony described gifts, including tires and rims worth about $1,000 for Segawa’s personal pickup truck, free meals for Segawa and a holiday party for police officers.
Witnesses described an offer that McComas would contribute toward the purchase of a police motorcycle if officers called for 100 tows.
McComas testified he offered to help but it was not meant to be a “this for that” offer.
McComas and his wife Sarah — Hemet’s city clerk — left the courtroom hand in hand. Defense attorney Steven L. Harmon said the couple did not want to make a statement.
“Morgan has been very good to the community,” Harmon said, “and at the time of his sentencing I think that will be very clear.”
Segawa pleaded guilty last year to eight felonies and two misdemeanors, including bribery, perjury and misappropriation of public funds. He served about six months of a one-year sentence.
Source:The press enterprise
Tags: 42, Morgan McComas, of Hemet, Pirot’s Towing
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