Huron mayor arrested on fraud charges

Published online on Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2009

The longtime mayor of Huron was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of real estate fraud, receiving stolen property and filing false statements.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said Ramon Dominguez, 62, was arrested at his home about 9 a.m. Wed- nesday, capping a six-month investigation.

"City officials are not above the law," Mims said at a news conference announcing the arrest. "They will be held accountable." Dominguez sold land he didn't own to an apostolic church organization, Mims said. The vacant lot is at L and 11th streets in Huron, a west-side farm town with a population of 8,000. The organization lost $29,000 in the deal.

When the Sheriff's Office searched his home, deputies found two computers belonging to the Coalinga-Huron Unified School District, where Dominguez works as a grounds supervisor, Mims said. The school has filed a complaint alleging theft of the computers. School officials could not be reached to comment Wednesday.

Deputies also recovered three sawed-off shotguns at his home, although charges have yet to be filed over the illegal weapons, Mims said.

The Sheriff's Office also served warrants on Huron City Hall, the first time a city hall has been subjected to such a search by deputies in Mims' 26-year career, she said.

Mims said the charges are not related to Dominguez's duties as mayor, although he reported the income he made from the land sale on a state economic interest form required of elected officials. He was booked in the jail and posted bond about 9 p.m. He was unavailable to comment.

Andy Padilla, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Huron, said the mayor's arrest will have a negative effect on children. "How can you expect the kids to respect the city now?" Padilla said. "They're going to say, 'Forget you, man.' "

The Sheriff's Office investigated the case at the request of the Huron Police Department, which wanted to avoid a conflict of interest. The investigation stems from a civil lawsuit over the property in question. A Huron property owner, Linda Mouren, filed a lawsuit against Dominguez alleging that he violated the terms of an agreement he made to lease the property. That was the property he sold to the church organization, Mims said.