Former Yucca Valley Airport Manager Charged with $1.25M in State Funds.

    Feb. 20, 2007
    In October 2003, Demel applied on behalf of the Yucca Valley Airport for state Office of Emergency Services funds to repair a damaged airstrip. Instead of spending it on repairs, he created a personal account for it and made seven withdrawals.

    Source The Press Enterprise

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    Prosecutors are searching for the former manager of a Morongo Basin airport who they suspect fled with more than $1 million in state funds intended to repair a flood-damaged runway.

    Richard Paul Demel, 51, of Bermuda Dunes, was charged Friday with seven counts of felony grand theft. A $1.25 million arrest warrant was issued for Demel, who remains at large.

    In October 2003, Demel applied on behalf of the Yucca Valley Airport for state Office of Emergency Services funds to repair a damaged airstrip, said Bud Randles, senior investigator with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's public integrity unit.

    The self-governed public airport, often used by emergency personnel during fires, flooded in August 2003, and the governor had declared a state of emergency for the area.

    Demel was issued a check in December 2004, but instead of spending it on repairs, he created a personal account for it and made seven withdrawals, Randles said. Demel spent the money on himself and the airport hasn't received any of the repairs the money was intended for, Randles said.

    "He applied for the grant as airport manager," Randles said. "But the board of directors was unaware the funds had been issued."

    None of the Yucca Valley Airport District's five board members knew about the money until last month, when a state representative called to follow up on the grant, Randles said. Demel had left the job by then.

    "Looks like we were doing a routine follow-up on the status of this project," said Eric Lamoureux, Office of Emergency Services spokesman.

    The board members, none of whom could be reached for comment late Friday, contacted investigators.

    Karyn Johnson, who runs a private aircraft maintenance business at the airport, said Demel was replaced last year and hasn't been there since. She said the runway that was supposed to be repaired still has cracks and sinkholes.

    "This does not surprise me in the least," Johnson said.

    Anyone with information on Demel's whereabouts is asked to call Randles at 909-981-3563.

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