California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

    Sodexo Employee Arrested on Campus

    The Thousand Oaks Police Department arrested a Sodexo employee on May 12 at 3 p.m. on suspicion of violating California Penal Code 487(a), Health and Safety Code Section 11350(a), and HS 11364(a).

    According to the Ventura County Sheriffโ€™s Departmentโ€™s Pressboard, officer Kristopher Doepking arrested the Sodexo employee on 60 W. Olsen Road.

    A Sodexo representative confirmed the alleged crime, but declined to name anyone due to personnel issues.

    According to the California Legislative Information website, California Penal Code 487(a) states, โ€œGrand theft is theft committed in any of the following cases: When the money, labor, or real or personal property taken is of a value exceeding nine hundred fifty dollars ($950).โ€

    Health and Safety Code Section 11350(a) states that, โ€œEvery person who possesses any controlled substance specified of Section 11056, or (2) any controlled substance classified in Schedule III, IV, or V which is a narcotic drug, unless upon the written prescription of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or veterinarian licensed to practice in this state, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant of Section 1170 of the Penal Code.โ€

    HS 11364(a) is listed as โ€œIt is unlawful to possess an opium pipe or any device, contrivance, instrument, or paraphernalia used for unlawfully injecting or smoking or (2) a controlled substance that is a narcotic drug classified in Schedule III, IV, or V.โ€

    โ€œA Sodexo employee reported that a laptop was taken. Police were notified about [the missing laptop], and the police conducted an investigation,โ€ Director of Campus Safety, Fred Miller, said. โ€œWe donโ€™t make arrests. Itโ€™s totally up to Sodexo. Itโ€™s a Sodexo matter. Theyโ€™re a contractor for Cal Lutheran. They will proceed with whatever their procedures are in how they will handle that employee.โ€

    According to a public narrative written by Doepking, published in the Ventura County Sheriffโ€™s Departmentโ€™s Pressboard, the Sodexo employee โ€œstole property from a backpack in the Starbucks locker room. The property was valued at over $950.โ€

    During a follow-up investigation, Doepking found the Sodexo employee โ€œto be in possession of 3 hypodermic needles and 3 schedule 2 narcotic pills,โ€ according to the public narrative.

    Schedule 2 narcotic pills, according to drugs.com, is โ€œdrug that has a high potential for abuse. The drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse of the drug may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.”

    According to the inmate information details page on the Ventura County Sheriffโ€™s Department website, the Sodexo employee was booked at the East Valley Jail for two misdemeanors on a $5,000 bail for HS 11350(a) and HS 11364(a), as well as a $15,000 bail for the PC 487(a) felony.

    The Sodexo employee has previously been convicted of seven crimes including possession of injection/ingestion device, second degree commercial burglary, altering evidence and two times possession of a controlled substance, according to the Superior Court of Californiaโ€™s website.

    The Sodexo employeeโ€™s court hearings will take place on May 26 and 28 at the Ventura County Superior Court.

    Rikke Bovre
    ’14-’15 News Editor and Managing Editor

    Brooke Straeter
    ’15-’16 News Editor

    Published May 17, 2015