NORTHRIDGE : 2 Parks Workers Charged With Soliciting Bribe
Capping a five-month investigation, authorities arrested two Los Angeles city recreation and parks employees Wednesday on charges of soliciting a bribe from a convicted offender so he could avoid performing court-ordered community service work.
Gardening supervisor Willard M. Stone and gardener Manuel Galvin Perez were taken into custody at the city Department of Recreation and Parks Northridge District Maintenance Yard, where the bribe allegedly took place.
Stone, 51, of Granada Hills has worked for the department for more than 26 years. He faces a maximum five years and eight months in state prison and $10,000 in fines if convicted. Perez, 41, of Pacoima faces a maximum of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines if convicted.
The two were arrested after an offender told authorities that Stone and Perez solicited a $125 bribe from him.
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