Two City Employees File Claims Over Lesher Center Child Abuse Case

Two city employees have filed claims against the city, saying they have faced ridicule and embarrassment over a child abuse case involving a former employee at the Lesher Center for the Arts.

Community Services Director Barry Gordon and Lesher Center Manager Scott Denison are seeking more than $25,000 in damages, according to a story in the Contra Costa Times.

The city appears to be in the process of settling those claims outside of court, the Times reported.

The claims are in addition to a claim filed in September by former Human Resources Director Sally Rice.

In addition, Denison's wife and two daughters, who are involved in productions at the Lesher Center, have filed claims.

Gordon, Denison, Rice and another city employee 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.

In early October, Gordon, Denison and Kevin Safine, Gordon's deputy, asked the city to reimburse them for legal fees.

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.