Politics & Government
City Paying $65,000 To Settle Claims With Two Employees
Both Walnut Creek employees were involved in the investigation of a Lesher Center for the Arts employee accused of inappropriate behavior with children
Walnut Creek officials have agreed to pay $65,000 to settle two claims with employees who were put on paid administrative leave earlier this year.
Arts, Recreation and Community Services Director Barry Gordon will receive $29,770 while Lesher Center Manager Scott Denison will receive $35,294, according to a story in the Contra Costa Times.
The money reimburses the employees for legal fees they incurred while defending themselves during the investigation earlier this year.
In exchange, the two employees and their families will not sue the city. The city also is not admitting any wrongdoing in settling the legal dispute, the Times reported.
The two employees had filed legal claims against the city earlier this month.
Gordon, Denison and two other city employees were put on paid leave for two months while the city investigated accusations they didn't properly report actions involving former Lesher Center employee Jason Pedroza.
All four were cleared of any wrongdoing.
Pedroza pleaded guilty in August to one felony count of using minors to engage in child pornography and a misdemeanor charge of child molestation. He was sentenced in October to 90 days in jail.
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