SANTA ANA, Calif.—A former California Highway Patrol officer was charged Wednesday with getting $4,000 in overtime pay for hours he never worked.
Scott Helberg, 47, of Corona, was charged with 27 felony counts of presenting a false claim and a felony count of grand theft by an employee. He is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 22 in the Central Justice Center in Santa. Ana.
Helberg could face up to 21 years in prison if convicted at trial.
Helberg’s job included coordinating and assigning overtime and inspecting two trucks, according to Kimberly Edds, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
He was accused of turning in 27 time cards for overtime he did not work between Oct. 16, 2020, and July 1, 2021, the prosecutor alleged.
Helberg resigned on June 14 after 22 years as a CHP officer.
