L.A. County won't file criminal charges over work at Ridley-Thomas home

Los Angeles County prosecutors have declined to file criminal charges in connection with taxpayer-funded work performed at Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas' home.

The district attorney's office said in a memorandum released Monday that county officials told investigators that the remodeling of Ridley-Thomas' converted garage into a home office last year was within county policy, though prosecutors found the project exceeded its initial costs.

"If they are correct, then the remodel was done with 'authority of law,' and there is no violation," the memo said.

The investigation focused on whether the work which cost taxpayers at least $10,675, according to the memo was a misappropriation of public funds.

A district attorney spokeswoman said the office had no immediate comment.

Ridley-Thomas did not respond to an interview request. He has said in the past that the work at his home was proper.

For months, county officials have refused to provide to The Times a full accounting of the costs of the project, which involved adding a security alarm system and making other improvements to Ridley-Thomas' garage.

Previously, the county has said the job cost $10,038 in labor and materials slightly less than the minimum total cited by the district attorney's office. But records reviewed by The Times suggest the cost could have been greater.

Time sheets for five Los Angeles County employees show a total of 170 hours worked at Ridley-Thomas' home in Leimert Park. If billed at standard county rates, 170 hours would cost more than $20,000.

County officials have declined to discuss the employees' work or how they calculated the costs.

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L.A. County won't file criminal charges over work at Ridley-Thomas home