CVUSD board member pleads guilty to filing false nomination papers
Coachella Valley Unified School District board member Francisco “Frank” Becerra has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of filing false nomination papers and been sentenced to three years probation.
Three felony counts of perjury were dismissed as a result of his plea.
Becerra was charged in June after he provided a Polk Street address in an agricultural area of Thermal on the forms, but prosecutors allege he actually lived about three miles away on Middleton Street. Becerra ran for Trustee Area 3 and defeated incumbent Lowell Kamper and fellow candidate Darlene Berber-Felton, but his alleged actual address should have had him running in Trustee Area 2, against former Coachella Mayor Jesus Gonzalez, according to prosecutors.
Gonzalez won after running unopposed for Trustee Area 2.
Dr. Edwin Gomez, CVUSD Superintendent of School released this statement on Becerra pleading guilty:
“It is confirmed that Mr. Becerra has officially resigned his seat as a trustee in CVUSD. At the next board meeting on September 21st, the Board will decide whether to go through the process of appointment or to hold a special election. “
Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.
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