LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County's longtime Community Development Department director has resigned in the midst of investigations by federal and local authorities regarding possession of child pornography.

Richard Coel tendered his resignation on Tuesday, which was accepted by the county, according to Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Brown.

Brown said the Board of Supervisors came out of closed session on Tuesday and voted to appoint Public Works Director Scott De Leon as interim Community Development Department director in light of Coel's resignation.

Coel has turned in all of his county-issued equipment, Brown said.

At the same time, Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin confirmed to Lake County News that his agency has launched an investigation to determine if Coel has child pornography in his possession.

Martin said the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted the sheriff's office to report that it was conducting an investigation into Coel possessing the illicit materials.

He said the FBI provided his office with information about the case, and sheriff's personnel began a separate investigation.

The sheriff's office went to Coel's residence, where the activities related to the materials are believed to have taken place, Martin said.

“He's presumed innocent until proven guilty but we are conducting concurrent and parallel criminal investigations with the federal authorities,” Martin said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the investigation was still under way and no arrest had been made, Martin said.

Martin would not discuss specifics of the investigation, including whether or not his detectives had served a search warrant and seized any of Coel's home computer equipment.

Martin said it is hard to estimate how long such an investigation could take to complete.

“We'll take as long as it takes to find evidence of a crime or find evidence that there isn't a crime,” he said.

Coel has been Community Development Department director since November 2006, having served before that time in roles including assistant department director and principal planner, according to county records.

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