Rialto Unified school security officer arrested for workers comp fraud

RIALTO :A former Rialto Unified school security officer has been arrested after allegedly filing more than $100,000 in fraudulent workers’ compensation claims.
Rialto resident Valentino Hilory Douglas, 44, was charged on Nov. 6 with making false workers compensation claims and attempted perjury. He was arrested Monday and booked into the West Valley Detention Center.

According to the state Department of Insurance, Douglas received more than $112,000 in workers compensation benefits for an injury that he claimed happened after an altercation with a student at Carter High School in May 2013. According to the Department of Insurance, investigators found evidence that he told a doctor in June 2013 that it was actually a softball injury.

“Workers’ compensation crime is a costly crime that we all pay for,” insurance commissioner Dave Jones is quoted as saying in a department press release. “Insurers pass along the cost of their losses to businesses through higher insurance premiums and those costs are passed on to consumers through higher prices for goods and services. Ultimately, there is a ripple effect on our economy.”

Douglas is no longer employed by Rialto Unified, according to district spokeswoman Syeda Jafri.
“When the district is made aware of any allegations of fraudulent or suspicious activities, regarding any employee, we will take those allegations seriously, and will work with the proper authorities to ensure that no labor rules and regulations are ignored or abused on the backs of taxpayers’ dollars,” Jafri said Wednesday. “However, this is still an ongoing investigation so further comments would be premature at this time.”

According to the Department of Insurance, videotaped evidence shows Douglas exercising with a group with no apparent physical issues. When investigators then questioned him, Douglas continued to insist he was hurt in the altercation at Carter High.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 16. If convicted on all counts, Douglas faces up to six months in jail.