Sept. 9, 2008 — The current general manager of Herlong Utilities, Inc., Pat Williams, who admitted to embezzling more than $138,000 from Valley of Enchantment Mutual Water Company, surrendered to Lassen County Sheriff's deputies Aug. 21 to serve time in San Bernardino County jail. Clad in a white shirt, blue pants and tie, 40-year-old Charles Patrick Williams was placed in handcuffs and escorted to an area with other inmates in San Bernardino Superior Court.

Williams is expected to serve 90 days in county jail, as part of a plea bargain he reached with prosecutors in June. He was credited for two days already served.

The defendant pleaded no contest to one count of grand theft and was granted three years' probation plus the jail time, under the terms of the agreement, according to court records.

A four-year sentence to state prison was suspended by the court, records indicate.

Williams was arrested Aug. 18, 2007, on suspicion of embezzling the money from Valley of Enchantment Water Co., according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

A three-month investigation revealed that more than $138,000 had been misappropriated from the water company.

A formal restitution hearing was scheduled for Oct. 2 in San Bernardino Superior Court.

The Susanville Police Department served Williams, 39, with the $200,000 warrant for his arrest on Aug. 18, 2007. At that time, Williams posted the $200,000 bail.

Williams, who lives in Janesville, took over the head job at the Herlong utility in March 2007 replacing former GM Joe Williams, no relation.

Deputies from the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station investigated allegations that while Williams was the general manager of the Valley of Enchantment Mutual Water Company, he embezzled money from the company.

The water company, located in Valley of Enchantment, claimed Williams, whose full name is Charles Patrick Williams, misappropriated more than $80,000.

During the investigation, it was determined that more than $138,000 had been embezzled from the water company.

The San Bernardino County Attorney's Office received the case for review. On July 27, a $200,000 warrant was issued for Williams' arrest.

During an Aug. 28, 2007 phone conversation with this newspaper, Williams said on the advice of his attorney he would not comment on the case. He did say the arrest stemmed from a problem with his former employer and had nothing to do with his current position and the utility’s Board of Directors were aware of his personal problems.

Williams was charged with violation of California Penal Code section 487, grand theft. The infraction date cited was June 1, 1999, according to San Bernardino County Court records.

Although the alleged crime occurred more than eight years ago, according to California law, the statute of limitations does not apply. For crimes of embezzlement, Penal Code 803(c) states that the statute of limitations begins at the time of discovery. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department was notified of the theft on May 17, 2007.