Ex-Coliseum GM Pleads Guilty In Alleged Bribery Scheme
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The former general manager of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum pleaded guilty Wednesday to a conflict-of-interest charge for his role in an alleged bribery scheme.
Patrick Lynch, 55, will have to pay $385,000 in restitution to the Coliseum within 45 days as part of his plea. He will not be formally sentenced until three other defendants in the case are tried.
Prosecutor Max Huntsman said Lynch had to admit on the record that he had lied to an investigator in this case, but KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta reports Lynch's attorney contested that statement.
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"Lynch was the General Manager. He allowed all of this to happen. I'm glad he's off the job. I'm glad he'll never be a public official again and I think he deserves having his reputation ruined and his career being over, but he has no criminal record and he came up with all this money upfront that we wouldn't have been able to get from him otherwise," Los Angeles County District Attorney Max Huntsman said.
"He did not give her the true facts of his involvement because, frankly, he didn't think that he had to," said attorney Tony Cappazola.
Lynch is expected to be sentenced to 1,500 hours of community service and three years probation.
If he successfully completes probation, the charge could be reduced to a misdemeanor. Three other men charged in the grand jury indictment have pleaded not guilty while two others have yet to make a court appearance.
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