Hermosa Beach City Treasurer David Cohn issued a statement through his attorney on Monday denying any wrongdoing in a criminal case in which two people have been charged with stealing his iPad and trying to extort money from him.
Cohn said he continues to perform his duties as treasurer and has no plans to resign, despite calls from Mayor Pro Tem Kit Bobko and City Council member Mike DiVirgilio for him to step aside and allow city staff to temporarily handle his duties amid dual criminal investigations.
“I can report to the residents of Hermosa Beach that I, as a private citizen, was the victim of a theft and an attempted extortion and that these crimes had nothing to do with my duties as your city treasurer, and did not involve any city business whatsoever,” said Cohn, 72, who was elected as treasurer last November.
Yuritsi Maria Garica, 26, was arrested by Hermosa Beach police Nov. 13 for stealing C0hn’s iPad after giving Cohn a massage in his home. She tried to extort money from him in exchange for deleting the contents of his iPad, police said.
Garcia told authorities that Cohn tried to have sex with her during the massage and she refused. Detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating Garcia’s assault claim, which she made while in custody of Hermosa Beach police.
“I assure the residents of Hermosa Beach that I have done nothing wrong, that I am the victim of this crime, and that the statement of the person arrested and charged with this crime, as printed in our local newspaper, is false and defamatory. The allegations only arose after she was arrested in a sting operation and charged with a felony,” Cohn said in his statement issued through his attorney John Sweeney.
In court on Monday, a preliminary hearing for Garcia and her boyfriend Gustavo Ceron, 29, was set for Dec. 17. After her court appearance, Garcia declined to comment to the media. Garcia and Ceron pled not guilty Nov. 15 to the charges of stealing the iPad and attempted extortion, according to court records. Ceron, who picked up Garcia at Cohn’s home Nov. 3 after Cohn cut the massage short, remains in custody.
In his statement, Cohn said it is his duty to be open and accountable to the residents. “In November my iPad tablet was stolen and within ten minutes of the theft I had its contents deleted through the security server of the device,” Cohn said. “My iPad did not contain any of the city’s financial records, emails, or operating data.”
“I can unequivocally state that no Hermosa Beach city business, documents, or confidential information was accessed by these individuals,” Cohn said.
“The Hermosa Beach Police Department has done a great job in investigating this matter and I know that these individuals will be brought to justice. I will continue to perform my duties as Treasurer for a city that I love and am proud to serve,” Cohn said.
Cohn did not attend last week’s City Council meeting. He is expected to present his quarterly financial report at the Dec. 11 meeting.
Previously: Hermosa Beach City Treasurer David Cohn says he will not resign
Previously: L.A. County Sheriff’s Department investigating sexual assault claim against City Treasurer David Cohn
Previously: Police: Attempted Extortion occurred after Hermosa Beach City Treasurer cut massage short
Previously: Massuese and boyfriend charged with attmpting to extort City Treasurer David Cohn
