By Anthony Saude

Chino – Robert Basile a City of Chino community services commission member was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of theft. An elder abuse investigation uncovered a scheme that the suspect concoted to embezzle $130,000 from an elderly family member living in Idaho.

Mr. Basile, 60, of Chino, is the Chino Valley Unified School District’s representative to the Chino community services commission. Basile was booked into at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, bail has been set at $50,000.

Jail records indicate he was arrested at 8:15 a.m. in the 12500 block of Strawberry Place in Chino.

Investigators said the suspect is accused of unlawfully withdrawing money from a family trust fund for four years, said police spokeswoman Monica Gutierrez.

It is very concerning to learn about the arrest of community leader Robert Basile for caretaker theft. The community services commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Chino city council on matters pertaining to city-sponsored community service activities. These services include the valuable services provided to the senior community in Chino.

Chino police began their investigation in March of this year after they received information of an elder abuse case from adult protective services in Boise, Idaho, where the victim lives.

“The investigation revealed Mr. Basile, was responsible for the family trust and had embezzled the monies for personal use,” Ms. Gutierrez said.

Mr. Basile serves as a citizens’ oversight committee member for Chino Valley Unified’s Measure G school bond and was president of Rancho Del Chino Rotary in 2012.