DA'S OFFICE AIMS TO HIKE FUNDING FOR EXTRADITIONS.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

With a more than tripling of the number of extraditions in the past decade, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office is seeking to double its revolving fund that pays those expenses.

The District Attorney's Office has extradited 78 fugitives back to the county so far this fiscal year - up from 24 in 1988-89 - and is requesting the fund be increased from $75,000 to $150,000.

``It's extremely important to the timely prosecution of the case,'' said Kevin McGee, chief assistant district attorney. ``There's legal requirements that must be met in terms of the rights of the accused. If those requirements are not met, it can have a negative impact on the case.''

The state reimburses the counties for extradition costs. In the past, the lag time for reimbursements to the fund from the state was six to nine months. In recent years it has taken more than a year in some cases to receive payment.

Auditor Thomas Mahon said the additional allotment should keep the extradition program solid through at least the end of fiscal year 1998-99, or June 30, 1999.

``This seems to be standard with the state . . . more so at the end of the (fiscal) year,'' Mahon said.

He added that if the state quickens its reimbursements in the future, the fund may be reduced as a result.

The Board of Supervisors has not approved additional funding for the extraditions since March 1991, when it hiked the amount from $55,000.

Typically extradition occurs when a warrant is issued for a suspect who fails to appear in court. The District Attorney's Office places the suspect's name and relevant information into a national crime computer, which laws enforcement agencies outside the county and state can access.

If a person is arrested on an outstanding warrant, either district attorney investigators or sheriff's deputies must travel to that city, apprehend the individual and return him to Ventura County.

``Under the penal code, it's our duty to pay those bills,'' said McGee. ``The lion's share for that was the short-notice air fare.''

Hotel bills for law enforcement officials also contribute to the tab.

A recent extradition case involves Thomas Albert Hunt, one of the county's ``most-wanted deadbeat parents,'' who was arrested by Phoenix police May 26 on an outstanding child-support warrant issued in the county six years ago.

Hunt, 45, owes about $45,000 in support for his two children, according to Kevin Farrell, deputy district attorney.

Hunt was returned by district attorney's investigators last Thursday at a cost of $740.50. The suspect pleaded innocent and a child support hearing was scheduled for July 8.

McGee said two other cases pending are expected to cost $7,400: Jon Tieken, who is expected to be returned to the county from New York City on June 22 to face stalking and attempted burglary charges; and Conrad Vela, who officials hope to return June 24 from Iowa to face robbery charges.