The president of an Orange County public utility resigned after pleading guilty Monday, Nov. 10, to lying about his address in order to run for re-election, according to prosecutors.
Duane Cave, president of the Moulton Niguel Water District, pleaded guilty to falsifying nomination paperwork in July 2024 that stated he lived within the boundaries of the water district, which serves Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.
Candidates must live within the water district to qualify for the office.
In that race, Cave was elected to serve on the Moulton Niguel Board of Directors through 2028, but as part of his plea agreement, he submitted his resignation Monday, effective on or before Nov. 20, the District Attorney’s Office said.
Cave served on the Moulton Niguel Board of Directors for 10 years, according to the water district’s website. As president, he was working to upgrade wastewater treatment facilities and put in place sustainable water policies, his bio page said. In 2024, Cave made more than $34,000 in pay from the district and received more than $24,000 in benefits, according to Transparent California.
Prosecutors started investigating complaints into the potential residency violation after receiving a resident complaint in October 2024.
On July 19, 2024, prosecutors alleged Cave signed candidate nomination paperwork saying that he lived within the water district, but he had rented out his Aliso Viejo home since October 2022. In that time, prosecutors said Cave was living with his wife, former Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Carol Gamble, in Rancho Santa Margarita.
“Duane Cave has agreed to an unusual People v. West misdemeanor plea in light of a disagreement between his counsel and the district attorney over Mr. Cave’s intent in not including his temporary out-of-district address in his filing for office,” said Cave’s attorney, Paul Meyer, in a statement, referencing a plea entered for practical reasons rather than agreeing the allegations against the defendant are true. “Mr. Cave’s lawyer believes the law supports innocence, and the district attorney disagrees.”
Meyer said his client agreed to the plea deal and the misdemeanor charge to avoid a lengthy trial, which he said would have disrupted the water district’s work and Cave’s personal life.
Gamble also pleaded guilty in October 2024 to falsifying nomination paperwork, claiming she personally collected 30 signatures from registered voters needed to run for Rancho Santa Margarita City Council when she had not, the district attorney’s office said. Prosecutors alleged Gamble signed paperwork saying that she had collected and witnessed the signatures in person, but voters who signed the paperwork told investigators that was not the case, making their signatures invalid.
She previously served on the City Council for 16 years, including four terms as mayor. Since ballots were already printed, Gamble’s name remained an option in the November 2024 election, though she suspended her campaign and was not eligible to serve on the City Council if elected.
As part of her plea agreement, Gamble was charged with a misdemeanor count of violating state election code and her sentence included 160 hours of community service, one year of probation, submission of her DNA and restitution.
Cave was sentenced to 160 hours of community service and a year of informal probation.
“Elected officials are elected to represent the communities where they live,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in a statement, “and Duane Cave does not deserve to represent the customers of the Moulton Niguel Water District because he doesn’t live there.”
The Moulton Niguel Water District didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.