Red Bluff >> Former Red Bluff City Councilman Suren Patel received a suspended five-year, eight-month prison sentence Thursday with a mandatory sentence of 364 days in county jail and 80 hours of community service.

Presiding Judge Matthew McGlynn gave Patel 120 days of credit for time served, reducing his mandatory sentence to 244 days.

Patel, the owner and manager of America’s Best Value Inn on South Main Street in Red Bluff, was arrested in 2016 and was charged with public officer crime, perjury by declaration, theft from elder or dependent adult, grand theft, workers’ compensation fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, according to court documents. He later pleaded guilty to fraud.

District Attorney Gregg Cohen proposed the total sentence of five years and eight months in prison along with restitution for fraud charges, saying the biggest victim was the city of Red Bluff as Patel was in a position of trust.

“I’m disappointed,” Cohen said after the sentencing. “When you hold an elected position, it is a position of trust. (Patel) failed to protect and defend the community.”

McGlynn agreed with the severity of the crime but believed due to Patel’s minimal criminal record, which contained three misdemeanors, all resulting in probation, the sentence should lean in the defence’s favor.

McGlynn said Patel did not appear to show remorse for his crimes and was caught when taking his family on a cruise for which he paid $9,000, rather than paying retribution to victims.

Patel was ordered to pay back about $9,900 to the city and $2,600 to an insurance company formerly used by America’s Best Value Inn, the motel Patel managed.

He was charged with theft and embezzlement when a 71-year-old woman’s credit card was charged $6,000 after her stay at the motel. Patel has since paid the money back.

Patel was initially charged with the crimes in 2016 following a 2015 investigation that turned up evidence of fraud. He was arrested in Florida when attempting to board a cruise ship.

At the time Patel was serving the remainder of Councilman Ray Eliggi’s term after Eliggi resigned.

Patel previously served on the board of directors for the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce.