The Morning Report
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Mario X. Sierra, who recently became the city of San Diego’s Director of Transportation & Stormwater, is currently in custody after being arrested by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department and charged with committing a lewd act with a minor.
Sierra, who has served the city for several decades, is scheduled be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in Department 12 of the San Diego Superior Court. The felony with which he has been charged carries a maximum prison sentence of eight years in state prison.
Earlier this month, the city consolidated its streets operations in order to better its street maintenance, appointing Sierra to head it in a new position that Councilman Kevin Faulconer dubbed the “streets czar.”
Update: Sierra has been placed on “unpaid administrative leave” city Chief Operating Officer Jay Goldstone said in a brief memo to City Council today. Kip Sturdevan, an assistant director in the environmental services department, will be taking over Sierra’s role on an interim basis, Goldstone wrote.
Please contact Will Carless directly at will.carless@voiceofsandiego.org or at 619.550.5670 and follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/willcarless.