Coachella City Employee Arrested on Felony Charges

City Employee Arrested on Charges of Embezzlement and Asking for and Receiving Bribes

COACHELLA — A 55-year-old business license technician for the city of Coachella was arrested Tuesday on felony charges of embezzlement and bribery, according to jail records.

Cesar Lucrecio Rosales was arrested at 4:30 p.m. at the city’s Administration Center, 53990 Enterprise Way. He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center. without incident Bail was set at $300,000.

Details are scarce.

On Oct. 21, the Thermal Sheriff’s Station Investigations Bureau was advised of an allegation of embezzlement by a city employee. During the investigation, it was determined that the suspect, identified as Cesar Rosales, a 55-year-old resident of Coachella, committed the crime of bribery by an executive officer. This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available at this time, according to Lt. Deirdre Vickers, Public Information Officer.

City Manager Bill Pattison told Uken Report that the Riverside Sheriff’s Office was working on a separate investigation and “stumbled upon some inconsistencies” in the licensing department. Rosales has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, Pattisson said.

Mayor Steven Hernandez did not return two calls from Uken Report on Friday morning

Rosales is scheduled to appear in court at the Larson Justice Center at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 8.

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