Orange County Police Officer Filed Bogus Timecard Claims, DA Says

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA — A former police officer working in Orange County was paid over $2,000 for bogus overtime claims that he submitted, Orange County prosecutors said Tuesday.

Stuart Robert Chase, 50, was charged with one felony count of grand theft and one felony count of filing a false claim to a government entity.

The Corona resident faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison if convicted, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

According to Spitzer, between Aug. 4, 2021 and Nov. 1, 2023, Chase was paid $2,590.93 in overtime and comp time for 12 different court dates that he reported attending to the Fountain Valley Police Department.

In addition to the 12 court dates he failed to appear at, Chase also failed to appear in traffic court 24 times while on duty during his regularly assigned shift, Spitzer said.

Since the investigation broke, Chase has resigned from the Fountain Valley Police Department and paid the money back in its entirety.

"Serving the public is a solemn responsibility and when a member of law enforcement willfully disregards his sworn duty to uphold the law and fulfill his obligations as a peace officer, it tarnishes the reputation of every hardworking man and woman who wear the badge," Spitzer said in a statement.