LOS ANGELES (AP) — Corruption charges have been filed against a former Los Angeles County appraiser as part of a probe into influence peddling at the assessor’s office.
Scott Schenter was charged Monday with 60 counts, including falsifying accounts and records. If convicted, he faces up to 33 years in prison.
The 49-year-old Oregon resident is accused of unlawfully lowering property value by more than $170 million while he worked for the county assessor’s office from 1988 to 2011. He allegedly secured campaign contributions from the owners of those homes and businesses for Assessor John Noguez.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley says he doesn’t believe Schenter’s actions are isolated and the investigation is ongoing. Cooley’s investigators searched Noguez’s home and office last month.
