Countywide : Computer Manager Accused of Theft

A manager in Ventura County government has been charged with embezzlement for allegedly stealing up to $18,000 in computer equipment from the Public Social Services Agency, officials said Wednesday.

David M. Woody, 29, who managed computer services for the county agency, pleaded not guilty to the charge in Ventura County Municipal Court last week. Woody remains free pending a preliminary hearing March 23.

James E. Isom, the agency’s director, said county officials received a tip several weeks ago from another county employee alleging that Woody was stealing equipment. After a three-week investigation by the agency, officials asked the district attorney’s office to pursue charges, Isom said.

He said a truckload of equipment valued at between $15,000 and $18,000 was recovered from Woody’s Camarillo residence and at other sites.

Woody, meanwhile, has been fired, according to his attorney, James M. Farley. If convicted of the embezzlement charge, Woody could face a three-year prison sentence.

“I’ve had some suspicion of this for a long time,” Isom said. “I was buying more computer equipment than I had.”

Woody could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Farley said Woody sometimes would take computer equipment home to repair.

“I think there is a lot of confusion and some mistakes here,” Farley said. “He was allowed to bring computers out of the government building to his home and he would work on them.

“And if the county’s printer was broken, he would take in one of his own,” Farley added. “It seems like a lot of this stuff got mixed up.”