The beginning of December marked a series of updates for the criminal cases against Tim Thomas, Peralta Community College District’s (PCCD’s) Executive Director of Public Safety. Thomas was convicted on two charges relating to a DUI, while his battery and elder abuse case is set for another disposition hearing.

The Peralta executive was convicted on Dec. 4 at the East County Hall of Justice on misdemeanor charges for driving under the influence of alcohol and carrying a concealed firearm within his vehicle. The charges arose from a Jan. 30 arrest by the California Highway Patrol in Dublin.  

Thomas’ sentence includes a $1,919 fine, three years of probation, three months of DUI schooling and two days in county jail. 

Because Thomas already served one day in jail before being bailed out on Jan. 31, he only needs to serve one more. Thomas was referred to the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program as an alternative to time at the county jail. 

A disposition hearing for Thomas’ case regarding a May 6, 2022 altercation with an elderly RV resident that resulted in charges of elder abuse, battery, and grand theft, was held on Dec. 5. The case was transferred to Department 113 for another disposition hearing on Jan. 17 at 8:30 a.m. at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse.

Most commonly, disposition hearings result in a dismissal, plea agreement, or setting the case for trial.

The Citizen reached out to Mark Johnson, PCCD’s Executive Director of Marketing, Communication, and Public Relations, via email on Oct. 8 to inquire whether Thomas was working on the day he was arrested for the DUI, and subsequently charged with carrying a concealed, loaded firearm in his vehicle. 

Johnson initially stated that Thomas “took a personal day” on Jan 30, but after The Citizen followed up with multiple requests for documentation, Johnson said the initial statement was inaccurate, and stated that Thomas worked from home that day.

The district noted in a response to a California Public Records Act request that neither Thomas nor anyone else employed by the district is permitted to possess a weapon on campus.

In the request, The Citizen also asked if the district launched any investigation into whether Thomas carried a weapon on campus the day of his arrest. 

“The District has not launched an investigation regarding matters unrelated to Tim Thomas’ employment,” the response states.

According to an administrative procedure regarding weapons on campus, “Firearms, knives, explosives or other dangerous objects, including but not limited to any facsimile firearm, knife or explosive, are prohibited on any District campus or in any facility of the District.” 

The procedure states that any exemptions to this rule must go through the Peralta Police Services, a department which is now defunct.