City Councilman on Probation for Failure to Provide Comp Insurance

Wednesday, August 15, 2018 | 0

A member of the El Cajon City Council who is running for re-election is serving probation after being convicted in 2015 of failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance for employees, and violating a stop-work order, the online edition of East County Magazine reported.

Bessmon “Ben” Kalasho

Bessmon “Ben” Kalasho will remain on probation until Oct. 1, the news service reported. He has pulled paperwork to run for re-election in November.

The news service said San Diego County Superior Court records show that Kalasho pleaded guilty to both charges on Oct. 1, 2015, and was ordered to pay $5,000 restitution and to report to San Diego County jail, where he was booked and released.

He was also fined $245 for failing to comply with a stop-work order issued by the Department of Industrial Relations.

Although court records don’t identify the business that failed to purchase insurance, the news report said Kalasho owned Go Carwash in Santee at the time. The business is now called Car Wash Caffe.

East County Magazine said it ran background checks on City Council candidates when Kalasho initially ran for a seat in 2016, but it was unaware at the time that Kalasho's legal first name is Bessmon. Kalasho appeared on the ballot as Ben Kalasho.