HUNTINGTON BEACH : Man, Son Indicted on 14 Theft Charges

A Huntington Beach man and his son have been indicted on a total of 14 federal charges of stealing more than $6 million in construction equipment and other materials from Citrus College in Glendora, officials said.

Michael John Mahan, 54, faces a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison and $3.7 million in fines if convicted of the federal charges. His son, Michael John Mahan Jr., 30, faces a maximum of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines if convicted of assisting his father.

A prosecutor and attorneys for the men could not be reached for comment Monday.

The construction equipment was stolen from a federal surplus property program in which the government supports education and research programs by donating material to public agencies, including colleges, according to the indictment announced Friday.

The elder Mahan was working as a college instructor in the diesel technology program between May, 1991, and April, 1992, when he allegedly circumvented college procedure and arranged for a donation of equipment from the federal government to the school, the indictment charged.

He allegedly stole about $6.5 million in materials, including cranes, engines, forklifts, raw metals, vehicles and machinery, the indictment charged.

The younger Mahan assisted his father in transporting and storing the materials throughout Los Angeles and San Diego counties, according to the indictment. Much of the materials were sold for personal gain, according to the indictment.

Michael Mahan was placed on administrative leave after an investigation began, and school officials later declined to renew his contract, said Citrus College spokeswoman Michelle Small.

The indictment also charges that in 1989, the elder Mahan persuaded officials at an Oceanside school to authorize him to acquire surplus property on behalf of the school. He and his son then allegedly diverted 44,000 pounds of aluminum from the program and sold it to an Anaheim metals dealer, according to the indictment.