Coachella City Employee Bribery Case Under Review

Coachella Man’s Bribery Case Seemingly in Limbo

COACHELLA — A 55-year-old business license technician for the city of Coachella who was arrested in October on felony charges of embezzlement and bribery is still awaiting his fate.

Cesar Lucrecio Rosales was arrested Oct. 21 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, according to jail records. He was released Oct. 22.

Details remain scarce.

“This case is still under review, and our office has not made a filing decision” a spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office told Uken Report. “The 12/8 hearing is autogenerated by the jail system based on Mr. Rosales’ arrest date. Because he posted bail and is no longer in custody, there is no statutory timeline in which our office must file charges.”

A spokesperson for the city’s Human Resources Department declined to say whether Rosales is still employed with the city.

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, 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.

Then-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 at the time.

Rosales was scheduled to appear in court at the Larson Justice Center at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 8. The appearance never transpired.