Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, April 22, 2023

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Mountain View News Saturday, April 22, 2023 

Pasadena 
Man Gets 
10 Years for 
EDD Fraud


Pasadena Public Libraries 
to Celebrate Library Week

 Recognizing the importance 
of libraries, the American 
Library Association began 
National Library Week 
in 1958 and continues to 
celebrate it annually.

 Although libraries are 
known for their wealth of 
stories, from picture books 
and popular fiction to 
audiobooks and eBooks, 
there is so much more to 
the story of libraries. If you 
haven’t visited a library in 
a while, National Library 
Week, April 23-29, is the 
week to do so and explore all 
that libraries have to offer.

 Libraries are welcoming 
spaces that bring 
communities together for 
connection, education, and 
companionship through 
book clubs, storytimes, 
crafting classes, author talks, 
and more. As a trusted 
resource, libraries play a 
key role in strengthening 
communities by supplying 
internet and technology 
access, literacy skills, and 
support for job seekers, 
small businesses, and 
entrepreneurs. Libraries help 
the community thrive.

 Pasadena Public Library 
has ten branches located 
throughout the city and offers 
a wide array of programs, 
classes, and resources to its 
residents, including:

LinkedIn Learning

Coursera

Sewing classes

Music lessons

Artists showcases

Blood pressure kits

Personalized research aids

Parks passes

Citizenship kits

Chromebooks and hotspots

Tutoring

Teen volunteer opportunities

And much more.

 If you have not checked 
them out lately, you are 
missing the full story. Stop 
by and pick up a National 
Library Week bookmark to 
celebrate with us. Follow 
@PasadenaPublicLibrary 
and the hashtag 
#NationalLibraryWeek to 
join the online celebration.

 For more information, 
visit the library’s website at: 
PasadenaPublicLibrary.net

 
The Department of Justice 
announced Thursday that 
a Pasadena man had been 
sentenced to 120 months 
in federal prison for using 
dozens of fraudulently 
obtained debit and credit 
cards as part of a scheme 
to defraud the state’s 
unemployment insurance 
program out of nearly $1 
million, and for possessing 
methamphetamine and 
ammunition.

 Robert Sloan Mateer, 32, 
of Pasadena, was sentenced 
by United States District 
Judge Otis D. Wright II, 
who also ordered him to 
pay $937,173 in restitution.

 Mateer pleaded guilty 
in November 2022 to one 
count of use of unauthorized 
access devices, one 
count of possession 
with intent to distribute 
methamphetamine, and 
one count of being a felon in 
possession of ammunition.

 On October 1, 2020, 
Mateer – whose criminal 
history includes a felony 
conviction in Los Angeles 
Superior Court in March 
2020 for driving or taking 
a vehicle without consent 
– and co-defendant 
Sarah Taylor Brown, 36, 
of Los Angeles, were 
stopped in Pasadena for 
a traffic violation and 
his vehicle was searched. 
The search of Mateer’s 
Maserati SUV revealed: 
approximately 85 grams 
of methamphetamine; 
two cellphones with debit 
and credit cards in names 
belonging to persons other 
than Mateer and Brown; a 
9mm-caliber pistol with 
no serial number and 
loaded with two rounds of 
ammunition; an additional 
round of 9mm-caliber 
ammunition in the driver’s 
side pocket of the car; 17 
California Employment 
Development Department 
(EDD) cards in the names 
of third parties; five credit 
and debit cards in other 
people’s names; and 
approximately $197,711 in 
cash.

 Mateer admitted in his 
plea agreement that he 
fraudulently obtained EDD 
debit cards by applying for 
unemployment insurance 
benefits using another 
individual’s personal 
identifying information on 
the EDD website.

 In total, the conspiracy 
caused actual losses to 
the EDD program of 
approximately $937,173. 
Brown was captured on 
ATM surveillance footage 
making at least $54,740 in 
withdrawals.

 Wright in November 
2021 ordered the Maserati 
SUV and the $197,711 in 
cash forfeited to the United 
States.

 Wright sentenced Brown 
to time served, after she had 
served nearly 20 months, to 
be followed by supervised 
release for three years, and 
ordered her to pay $54,740 
in restitution, to be held 
jointly and severally liable 
with Mateer.

Independent Auditor Recommends 

27 Pasadena Police Policy Changes

 Pasadena police officials 
announced Thursday that the 
Office of Independent Review 
(OIR) has recommending 27 
police department policy 
changes after finishing its 
review of the officer-involved 
shooting of Anthony McClain 
August 15, 2020.

 “This process was thorough, 
professional and transparent 
by all who participated,” said 
Pasadena police Chief Eugene 
Harris. “I wish to thank the 
OIR group for their attention 
and partnership.”

 In a public statement 
officials said that the 
proposed recommendations 
have been in place either 
pre-incident, post-incident, 
post-initial review, or will 
be implemented in the near 
future. 

 “Pasadena police 
personnel have analyzed 
the recommendations 
and developed a plan for 
implementation,” they said.

 Of the recommendations, 
Harris, agreed with most 
of them including that the 
department “should revise 
its force review policies to 
require formal evaluation of 
any attendant foot pursuits 
and evaluating whether or 
not officers’ actions align 
with the Department’s Foot 
Pursuit Policy.” and that they 
“should conduct frequent and 
regular training on the Foot 
Pursuit Policy, including the 
preference for surveillance 
and containment over 
engagement in foot pursuits.” 

 Harris disagreed with a 
recommendation that, “In 
the recommended training, 
PPD [Pasadena Police 
Department] should make 
clear that witnesses are not 
suspects: officers should not 
run a witness’ identity or 
vehicle plates unless officers 
can articulate a rationale for 
doing so.”

 Harris said that witnesses 
can become suspects after 
gathering information, 
“Either way, officers 
and investigators threat 
witnesses and suspects with 
professionalism and respect.”

 He also said the department 
would review their policy 
on handcuffing severely 
injured suspects and consider 
training as part of the OIR 
recommendations. 

 According to the report, 
McClain was handcuffed after 
stating, “I’m passing out.” and 
in need of medical help.

Officials said the report 
would be presented to the 
Public Safety Committee 
and/or the full City Council 
in May, when a meeting can 
be scheduled.

 McClain was shot by 
police after a traffic stop, 
near Raymond Avenue and 
Grandview Street, for a 
minor infraction —no front 
license plate. McClain was a 
passenger in the vehicle and 
ran from officers after being 
asked to get out the vehicle. 

 Last year in April, District 
Attorney George Gascón 
declines to file charges against 
the officers saying “the 
evidence presented strongly 
supports that McClain 
possessed a firearm.”

 In 2021 the city settled a 
lawsuit for $7.5 million filed 
by the family of McClain

 Harris was appointed to the 
position of Police Chief in 
January. 

 The full report and Harris’ 
responses can be found at: 
cityofpasadena.net/police.

Public Invited 
to ‘Spring 
Into Wellness’ 
Health Festival

South Pasadena Library to 
Open Late on Wednesday

 The South Pasadena Public 
Library will be closed from 
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on 
Wednesday, to enable all staff 
to participate in a strategic 
plan implementation 
workshop.

 The Library has 
traditionally undertaken a 
strategic planning process 
every five years. Between 
June and December 2022, 
consulting firm Berry 
Dunn led the Library’s 
strategic planning effort and 
conducted community and 
staff engagement. A draft 
Library Strategic Plan 2023-
2027 was approved by the 
Library Board of Trustees 
on February 9, 2023. The 
Strategic Plan will be 
presented and discussed at 
a special joint study session 
of the City Council and 
Library Board of Trustees 
on May 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. 
in the Council Chambers 
(1414 Mission Street). 
Members of the public are 
encouraged to attend. For 
more information about the 
Library strategic planning, 
visit: southpasadenaca.gov/
librarystrategicplan.

 The Library is located at 
1100 Oxley Street in South 
Pasadena. For information 
about services and programs, 
visit the website at: 
southpasadenaca.gov/library. 
The Library is open Monday, 
Friday, Saturday 10:00 
a.m.–6:00 p.m., Tuesday, 
Wednesday, Thursday 10:00 
a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday 
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

 
The public is invited to 
Spring Into Wellness, a 
free community health 
festival on Saturday, April 
29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 
Robinson Park Recreation 
Center. The festival will 
features free food, family-
fun activities, health 
screenings, educational 
workshops, a COVID-19 
vaccine clinic, and 
information on programs 
and services for well-being.

 “This is a wonderful 
opportunity to bring our 
community together again,” 
said Manuel Carmona, 
acting public health director. 
“PPHD staff are excited 
to share practical ways 
for community members 
to maintain and improve 
health and well-being. We 
want Pasadena families to 
know that their local public 
health department is a 
resource to them.”

 In addition to activities 
provided by PPHD, the 
event is scheduled to include 
oral health screenings 
provided by Young & 
Healthy Pasadena and 
health screenings provided 
by Huntington Health. Free 
food will be provided by 
the Pasadena Firefighters 
Association, Local 809.

Robinson Park Recreation 
Center is locaded 1081 N. 
Fair Oaks Ave. This event 
is sponsored by Pasadena 
Public Health Department 
(PPHD) and community 
partners.

 For more information or to 
register as a vendor, please 
contact PPHD at (626) 
744-6097 or CPinedo@
CityOfPasadena.net.

Pasadena Heritage to 

Bring Back Bridge Party

 


 Pasadena Heritage announced 
this week the return, after a 
five year hiatus, of uniquely 
Pasadena Colorado Street 
Bridge Party Saturday, July 15. 
“Help us bring back the best 
party in town as we celebrate 
the magnificent Colorado Street 
Bridge and it’s preservation with 
music, dancing, delicious food, 
specialty cocktails, children’s 
activities and more.”

 It’s a party of the ages for all 
ages.

 “We want everyone to enjoy a 
fun-filled, family-friendly night 
over the Arroyo Seco with live 
music, dancing, delicious food, 
craft beer, specialty cocktails, 
children’s activities, and more.”

 Pasadena Heritage is asking 
for sponsorships that provide 
critical support for this 
monumental undertaking in 
celebration of the magnificent 
Colorado Street Bridge and thier 
efforts to preserve it.

 There are also many exciting 
opportunities to volunteer at 
the Bridge Party. Shifts of three 
hours or more receive free 
admission to the Bridge Party.

 The Bridge Party takes place 
from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. 

 For more information 
visit: pasadenaheritage.org/
bridgeparty.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com