Moulton Niguel Water District President Duane D. Cave pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor related to his residency when he filed nomination papers for re-election and was sentenced to 160 hours of community service.
Cave’s attorney, Paul Meyer, said his client made an unusual plea that allows him to dispute the facts of the case but accept the legal consequences.
“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,” Meyer said.
Meyer added he “believes the law supports innocence, and the district attorney disagrees.”
Meyer said his client felt that going to trial would be “very disruptive to the work of the Moulton Niguel Water District and to (his) personal life.”
Cave agreed to resign as of Nov. 20.
“As a respected and recognized longtime community volunteer, Mr. Cave looks forward to continuing to serve the community through his many recognized volunteer activities,” Meyer said. “Mr. Cave extends his appreciation for the fine work of the Moulton Niguel Water District staff, his colleagues on the Board, and for the great benefits they have and will continue to provide to the community that he loves.”
Cave is married to Carol Gamble, who pleaded guilty Nov. 1, 2024, to a misdemeanor related to her nominating petitions for her re-election campaign for Rancho Santa Margarita mayor. She admitted to not personally witnessing signatures for her nominating petitions and was ordered to perform 160 hours of community service as well.
A citizen complaint was filed against Cave in October of last year. Prosecutors said Cave signed paperwork that he lived within the water district’s boundaries, but he had been renting out his Aliso Viejo home since October 2022 while living with Gamble in Rancho Santa Margarita, which is outside the water district boundaries.
“For a candidate to lie to get on the ballot is not just committing a crime, it is robbing the people of their most precious right, their voice of who they want to represent them, to protect them, and to fight for all their other rights,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “Elected officials are elected to represent the communities where they live and Duane Cave does not deserve to represent the customers of the Moulton Niguel Water District because he doesn’t live there.”