A prominent Ventura County farmer and former board member of a local water agency has pleaded guilty to one felony count of grand theft of water.

Daniel Conklin Naumann, the owner and operator of Naumann Family Farms in Oxnard, admitted to pumping groundwater valued at $29,301 between 2019 and 2021 without paying the required fees to the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency. This information was disclosed in a news release from the Ventura County district attorney.

Naumann, who served as an elected board member of the United Water Conservation District and as an alternate board member of the Fox Canyon agency, recently resigned from his position at the United district.

An investigation conducted by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office uncovered the installation of diversion bypasses on two commercial water pumps used to irrigate Naumann’s crops. These bypasses redirected water before it reached the flow meters that measure usage for billing purposes.

Dist. Atty. Erik Nasarenko emphasized the severity of water theft, stating, “Stealing water is a serious crime. This felony conviction holds the defendant accountable for his conduct and sends a clear message that evading fees and illegally diverting water will result in criminal consequences.”

The district attorney’s office initially filed charges against Naumann for felony counts of grand theft and theft of utility services back in August.

Mark Pachowicz, the attorney representing Naumann, has declined to make any comments on the case.

The Naumann family has been longstanding figures in Ventura County agriculture, recognized as farming pioneers in the region. They immigrated from Germany in the late 1800s, initially farming sugar beets and lima beans before transitioning to citrus and row crops.

Ventura County’s agricultural industry was reported to be valued at over $2.1 billion in 2022, according to the agricultural commissioner’s office.

In a video from 2017 posted by the United Water Conservation District, Naumann spoke about the critical importance of water management in the region, emphasizing the need to use water wisely and efficiently to sustain agriculture.

Naumann is set to be sentenced on May 24 and has been released on his own recognizance. It is anticipated that he will receive a 30-day sentence in Ventura County Jail, be required to pay full restitution, and be placed on probation for two years, as per the district attorney’s statement.