EDITORIAL : ROBBING THE CHILDREN; MULLINAX REPORT IMPLICATES DOZENS FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER SCANDAL.

LAUSD's inspector general handed L.A.'s shrinking-violet district attorney, Gil Garcetti, a smoking gun Tuesday: a 671-page report outlining massive fraud during construction of the Belmont Learning Center.

Don Mullinax, director of the Internal Audit and Special Investigations Unit, basically found at least $2 million in fraudulent billing.

Worse, Mullinax found that the problems could have been detected, had not Los Angeles Unified School District's outside attorney told district officials to relax their normal accounting practices.

The charges are serious and go beyond a few inept or corrupt district officials, including many who have already been forced out or paid off.

The report makes it clear that high-powered attorneys, accountants, contractors, consultants and district officials robbed the children blind.

Belmont wasn't a learning center and it was never for the children.

It was a big ugly rock that dozens of people and firms hid behind while they robbed children of money for books, supplies, equipment and a decent education.

The lapse of judgment cited in the report is almost inconceivable. O'Melveny & Myers is a million-dollar law firm that gave out advice that apparently wasn't worth a plug nickel. Partner David Cartwright knowingly advised the LAUSD 

Cartwright's advice apparently was basically an invitation to loot the district. Mullinax suggests the district's lawsuit should include the new charge, and he's right.

He also recommended possibly suing the accounting firm of Ernst & Young for its failure to discover the environmental problems surrounding Belmont.

The firm acted as auditor, accountant of record and outside real estate financial expert. Yet Mullinax could find no evidence that the firm found any of the myriad problems plaguing the toxic project.

And those are only two examples.

Garcetti watched while Mullinax did his work.

The district attorney made it clear that he had no intention of investigating Belmont unless someone handed him clear and convincing evidence that criminal misdeeds were committed.

Mullinax has handed him that evidence. Mullinax said he had probable cause to believe that certain acts or omissions violated criminal laws and he referred these to Garcetti's office, to the state attorney general and to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Mullinax has handed Garcetti a blueprint to follow the money, follow the fraud, follow the culprits who thought nothing of robbing children of a quality education.

The hands of dozens of current and past LAUSD officials, along with knowledgeable attorneys, accountants, contractors and consultants, have been dirtied by Belmont.

We've asked many times in the last year: Where's Gil Garcetti? There should be no need to ask again.