The city spent at least $1.7 million on preparations to set up a department, including more than $1 million on Motorola communications equipment. The City Council voted in June 2010 to bring back the Compton Police Department, using bond funds reallocated from other projects. He sat on a three-person technology committee that was instrumental in the purchase of the police radios he is now accused of stealing. Those earlier charges relate to other equipment stolen from the city.Ĭity officials said Melanson was known as a communications wiz and an expert in emergency radio systems. The criminal complaint filed against Melanson showed the theft and embezzlement allegations dating back to 2008, well before the December 2011 fire. “I don’t believe my client committed this crime, and I’m concerned about an alleged expert changing his opinion,” Rico said. The investigator recently changed his mind, Rico added. Melanson’s defense attorney, Robert Rico, said that he is still reviewing the case but that a Long Beach Fire Department investigator being used as an expert initially determined the fire was not an arson. If convicted, he would face a maximum of 10 years and eight months in state prison, said Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. He pleaded not guilty and remained jailed, with bail set at $350,000. Melanson was charged Friday with arson, grand theft and embezzlement. Authorities allege that Melanson stole much of the equipment and set the rest on fire, hoping the missing radios would not be detected. The city came close to insolvency in 2011, and officials hoped to sell the equipment to recoup some much-needed cash.
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