CPA executive director admits misuse of govt vehicle

Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director MaryAnn Q. Lizama pleaded guilty on Friday to a traffic case citing her for using a CPA issued vehicle in buying items at a store.

Lizama apologized to the court for her actions and stated that she holds herself accountable for the mistakes that she made and learn from those, and not make the same mistake twice.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho accepted Lizama’s guilty plea to the traffic charge of use of government vehicle for non-government purposes.

Camacho sentenced Lizama to three days in prison, all suspended.

Camacho ordered the defendant to pay a $500 fine not to be paid by the government or CPA, and placed her on six months probation.

The judge dismissed the other traffic citations of government vehicle use restriction and marking of government vehicle as part of the plea deal.

Lizama appeared with her counsel, Joey Patrick San Nicolas, at the hearing.

Assistant attorney general Emily Cohen stated that according to the factual basis of the plea agreement, Lizama admitted that she operated a government vehicle on the highways on Oct. 21, 2014 at approximately 5:21pm for non-government purposes.

Asked by Camacho to explain in her own words what happened, Lizama said earlier during the day of Oct. 21, her daughter called and asked if she could pick up some items from the store for a gathering she had to attend.

Lizama said the intent was to pick up the items at the store, pay for them, and then she was going to meet her at the store to pick up the items she needed.

Lizama said she left work a little after 5pm, and on her way home, she stopped at the store to pick up the items her daughter asked for.

On her way out of the store, Lizama said a police officer assigned to the Office of the Public Auditor approached her and informed her that she wasn’t supposed to be shopping using a government vehicle. The officer then issued her a citation.

The dismissed charges refer to an incident on Sept. 11, 2014, when Lizama allowed a CPA staff to use her government-issued vehicle to pick up her passport from her housekeeper at a laundromat

After the hearing, Lizama and San Nicolas proceeded to the Office of Adult Probation, where she paid the $500 fine.

In an interview, Lizama said she completely understands that because she holds a high-profile position, she is under extreme scrutiny and under the watchful eye of the public.

“I don’t want anyone else to make an example out of me but let me make an example out of myself,” she said.

The CPA executive director said she is hoping that her experience will also serve as a message to other government officials as well as government employees to know what they are not allowed to do when using government property.

“I had to learn the hard but unintentional way,” said Lizama, adding that she hopes that authorities are consistent when enforcing the law.

Lizama said the CPA board chair and the board of directors are aware of what happened both times.

“I also had the message conveyed to our personnel who drive a CPA vehicle to make sure that they use their assigned vehicles accordingly and to not befall my error,” she said.