An elected member of a Ventura County water board admitted that he stole water for his farm in Oxnard, which is a crime. In a news statement on Friday, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said that 66-year-old Daniel Naumann admitted to one count of grand theft of water.
Naumann lives in Camarillo and runs Naumann Family Farms. He was chosen to the United Water Conservation District board and was an alternate board member for the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency.
According to the VCDA's Office, United and Fox Canyon take care of and protect groundwater supplies in Ventura County for farming uses. "Both groups decide how much water to give to different users and charge farmers to pump groundwater."
Notwithstanding these duties, Naumann stole almost $30,000 worth of water from 2019 to 2021 by installing "diversion bypasses" on two industrial water pumps that watered Naumann's crops, according to the news release.
"The bypasses sent pumped water to irrigation lines before it reached flow meters that kept track of water use for billing purposes," the news release said, adding that Fox Canyon was the victim in this case and Naumann was an option.
Nasarenko said in the report, "Stealing water is a very bad crime." "This felony conviction makes the defendant responsible for his actions and makes it clear that not paying fees and illegally diverting water will lead to criminal charges."
As of now, Naumann is free on his own recognizance until his sentence on May 24. He is likely to get 30 days in Ventura County Jail, have to pay back the full amount he stole, and have to go on probation for two years. The Star noted that Naumann did not talk about the criminal case when he quit the United board after more than 30 years.
A letter from Nauman to United says, "Being with United has been an amazing journey and rewarding experience protecting and improving the water resources for Ventura County. The friendships made over the years are priceless." News from the Ventura County Star says that as part of his plea deal, five other criminal charges will be dropped.
Naumann lives in Camarillo and runs Naumann Family Farms. He was chosen to the United Water Conservation District board and was an alternate board member for the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency.
According to the VCDA's Office, United and Fox Canyon take care of and protect groundwater supplies in Ventura County for farming uses. "Both groups decide how much water to give to different users and charge farmers to pump groundwater."
Notwithstanding these duties, Naumann stole almost $30,000 worth of water from 2019 to 2021 by installing "diversion bypasses" on two industrial water pumps that watered Naumann's crops, according to the news release.
"The bypasses sent pumped water to irrigation lines before it reached flow meters that kept track of water use for billing purposes," the news release said, adding that Fox Canyon was the victim in this case and Naumann was an option.
Nasarenko said in the report, "Stealing water is a very bad crime." "This felony conviction makes the defendant responsible for his actions and makes it clear that not paying fees and illegally diverting water will lead to criminal charges."
As of now, Naumann is free on his own recognizance until his sentence on May 24. He is likely to get 30 days in Ventura County Jail, have to pay back the full amount he stole, and have to go on probation for two years. The Star noted that Naumann did not talk about the criminal case when he quit the United board after more than 30 years.
A letter from Nauman to United says, "Being with United has been an amazing journey and rewarding experience protecting and improving the water resources for Ventura County. The friendships made over the years are priceless." News from the Ventura County Star says that as part of his plea deal, five other criminal charges will be dropped.
