REPORT RIPS CYA SITE'S ADMINISTRATORS; MISCONDUCT SAID TO HAVE RAGED UNCHECKED.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Daily News Staff Writer

A scathing new report from the state inspector general accuses administrators at the California Youth Authority detention center of allowing sexual misconduct, nepotism and intimidation to run unchecked for the last seven years.

In addition to blaming administrators for longstanding problems at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, the report also includes recommendations for improving policy review and training.

Inspector General Lloyd Wood did not return phone calls. But a spokeswoman for the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency, the state entity that oversees the CYA, said the recommendations were primarily organizational.

``The inspector general looked at this (report) as a management tool and attempted to make suggestions as to what the inspector general believed would improve operations at the facility,'' said Lisa Beutler, assistant secretary for the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency. Beutler declined to elaborate, saying she was prohibited from commenting on recommendations regarding personnel.

Wood's report was issued Wednesday, resulting in the immediate suspension of center Superintendent Mary L. Herrera, Assistant Superintendent Charles S. Kubasek and Chief of Security Maj. James J. McDuffy.

Gregory Lowe, the assistant superintendent at El Paso de Robles Youth Correctional Facility, took over Thursday as the top administrator at the Camarillo facility.

The 37-year-old detention center - one of 11 youth facilities in the state - employs more than 400 and incarcerates 729 male and female wards, ages 13 to 25.

In a five-page summary letter, Wood said he found that managers at the Camarillo facility treated and punished male and female employees differently and also minimized cases of sexual misconduct between staff and wards.

``The study also reveals that sexual misconduct among staff and wards has been going on for a long time,'' Wood's letter said. ``That is not to say that this type of behavior is condoned by staff, nor are we saying that a majority of staff engage in this type of behavior.

``What we found strikingly noticeable is that the outrage this misconduct would create among the general public is not found among staff,'' he said. ``The perception is that the administration uses selective enforcement in dealing with misconduct.''

Wood also said the administrators dragged their feet in addressing problems. It cited the case of a youth counselor who became pregnant in 1980 by a paroled ward, resigned and was later re-hired.

``Although the 1980 incident should have alerted management of a possible pattern of behavior for this person, it was not until 1992 and after various incidents of similar inappropriate behavior that administration dismissed her,'' the report said.

In another situation, a youth counselor abruptly retired in 1997 and was later discovered to have left his wife and family to move to San Diego with a recently paroled ward from the Camarillo facility, the report said.

The California Youth Authority's Internal Affairs officers reported that 92 percent of the 64 cases it investigated in 1998 supported allegations of misconduct.

``We believe that a management responsibility exists when so many cases have been sustained,'' Wood said.

The report also includes several other allegations:

Former Superintendent Manuel A. Carbajal violated regulations and policy regarding nepotism, engaging ``in personal relationships with subordinates in violation of such policies.''

Under his administration, it was perceived that ``Hispanic staff members and wards received preferential treatment and that female employees only advanced their career by providing favors, some sexual, to management.'' His administration also was ``described as based on fear and intimidation with racial and sexual overtones.''

Carbajal, who became superintendent of the facility in 1990, suddenly resigned in November, two days after he was interviewed by the Inspector General's Office, which was evidence he ``was untruthful.''

Herrera, the suspended superintendent, ``knowingly accepted and processed an incomplete personnel investigation'' and also ``was untruthful in her official response to the State Personnel Board.''

Kubasek, the suspended assistant superintendent, ``made false, misleading and perjurious statements of material fact and that he attempted and did dissuade and interfere with testimony'' in a state personnel hearing.

Chaplains ``reported that one administrator has frequently demeaned them, used abusive language toward them and intimidated them,'' the report said.

The investigation came at the behest of state Sen. Cathie Wright, R-Simi Valley, whose district includes the facility. Wright, a critic of the facility, demanded again Thursday that Franciso Alarcon, the appointed director of the California Youth Authority, resign or be fired by his boss, Gov. Gray Davis.

``It's up to Davis to relieve him of his duty,'' Wright said. ``And I think he would for the simple reason, for the fact (Alarcon) in no way led or directed this department. He didn't do his job and it's time for him to go.''

Alarcon did not return phone calls. But J.P. Tremblay, Alarcon's assistant director of communications, said there would be no comment.

``We don't want to get into a debate with the senator in the media. It's best not to comment on that further.''