This popped up on our Web site not too long ago....

POMONA - A former West Covina planning commissioner had charges of perjury and conflict of interest dismissed by a Pomona court on Tuesday.

Carlos Thrasher, an local businessman and Iraq war veteran, was accused of failing to disclose that he owed money to developer Ziad Alhassen before a vote on one of Alhassen's development projects.

Thrasher's trial was scheduled to start on Tuesday, but before a jury was called, Judge Daniel Buckley granted a defense motion to dismiss the case.

Kevin McDermott, Thrasher's attorney, said the prosecution had no case because it could not show Thrasher intended to deceive the public by not disclosing his debt to Alhassen.

"I could see if we were talking about a political committee fining him, but when you are talking about perjury, you need to show the person was clearly advised ahead of time, and deliberately ignored that advice," said McDermott.

He said that Thrasher received a letter from West Covina city attorneys advising him that the $17,166 debt he owed Alhassen did not qualify as a loan, which would have required disclosure.

Thrasher owed the money as back rent for an office he was renting from Alhassen. Thrasher had left the country to serve in Iraq but still was using the office, according to Alhassen's testimony in the preliminary hearing.

Thrasher signed a promissory note agreeing to pay back the debt to Alhassen at the rate of $500 a month, records show.

The complaint about Thrasher's lack of disclosure came from Alhassen's attorney, after Alhassen's South Hills Homes Partnership requested a time extension to build a gated community in a cul-de-sac known as Inspiration Point.
Thrasher voted against the extension, as did the rest of the planning commission. Alhassen brought the matter directly to the City Council, which voted 3-1 against the extension.

Alhassen said at the preliminary hearing that the decision cost him millions of dollars.