LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport’s former utilities superintendent was arrested Wednesday morning on charges that he embezzled public funds totaling several thousand dollars.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said his detectives arrested Matthew Allen Johnson, 36, of Lakeport, at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Johnson is alleged to have taken just over $6,500 from the city, but police did not divulge the time frame of the theft and the city would offer no further comment on the case, including when Johnson had been employed there.

The arrested resulted from a Lake County Superior Court warrant issued after the Lake County District Attorney filed a complaint charging seven felony counts of embezzlement and seven felony counts of misappropriation of public funds, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said the Lakeport Police Department was contacted on Monday, July 16, by city executive management staff, who notified police of the alleged misappropriation of public funds by Johnson at a
time that he was employed as the city’s utilities superintendent.

City staff were able to recognize the misappropriations due to the city’s system of “checks and balances” for safeguarding public funds and resources, Rasmussen said.

City staff worked closely with the police department during what Rasmussen said was an extensive criminal investigation.

Rasmussen said the investigation concluded on Tuesday, at which time it was determined that the theft amounted to just over $6,500.

He gave credit to “hardworking and honest city staff” who immediately reported the matter and “took steps to ensure that it was handled quickly and efficiently.”

Rasmussen said the case was turned over to the Lake County District Attorney for prosecution.

Neither police nor city officials would offer additional comment on the case beyond Rasmussen’s report of the arrest.

According to city documents, Johnson had worked for the city of Lakeport for several years, with reports prepared for the council indicating he was a licensed water treatment and water distribution operator with close to a decade in utility operation and management.