California water district accepts Tom Selleck's offer of $21,000 after he allegedly stole truckloads of water from a fire hydrant for two years to use on his 60-acre farm

  • A California water district has accepted Tom Selleck's offer of more than $21,000 to settle a lawsuit
  • The actor was accused of taking water he wasn't entitled to for his 60-acre ranch
  • He allegedly took water from a public fire hydrant multiple times  

By Associated Press and Charlene Adams For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:24 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 02:07 EST, 16 July 2015

A California water district has accepted Tom Selleck's offer of more than $21,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused the actor of taking water he wasn't entitled to for his 60-acre ranch.

Directors of the Calleguas Municipal Water District in Ventura County voted Wednesday to accept the offer.

The vote was taken during a closed session, ABC News reports. And with two members absent, the vote was 3-0. 

The district sued the 'Magnum P.I.' star and his wife earlier this month after a private investigator determined water was being trucked from one of its hydrants to the Selleck ranch in Hidden Valley, just outside the district.

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Settlement: A California water district has accepted Tom Selleck's (left) offer of more than $21,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused the actor of taking water he wasn't entitled to for his 60-acre ranch

Settlement: A California water district has accepted Tom Selleck's (left) offer of more than $21,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused the actor of taking water he wasn't entitled to for his 60-acre ranch

Court documents filed against Selleck state that as California's historic drought worsened, the 70-year-old actor had water from the public hydrant delivered to his expansive ranch.  

The district provides water to Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and several other cities in Ventura County.  

The board's acting president, Thomas Slosson, says the settlement figure covers the cost of hiring the private detective.

'Underpinning these laws is the concept of basic fairness,' Slosson said, according to ABC. 

Ranch: Court documents filed against Selleck state that as California's historic drought worsened, the 70-year-old actor had water from the public hydrant delivered to his expansive ranch (pictured)

Ranch: Court documents filed against Selleck state that as California's historic drought worsened, the 70-year-old actor had water from the public hydrant delivered to his expansive ranch (pictured)

'That is, residents and businesses within the district - the rightful users of district water — paid for the construction, maintenance and operation of the public works necessary to meet their water needs, not those of other landowners outside Calleguas' legal boundaries.'

Selleck agreed to pay $21,685.55 to the district to cover the cost of the private investigator. 

Officials say water was taken from the hydrant more than 12 times between 2013 and 2015.

The district issued a cease-and-desist order to the couple in 2013. They ignored it and, the Sun Sentinel reports, Selleck's truck was seen being filled from the hydrant as recently as March.

According to ABC, the public works director for Thousand Oaks said recently that the water was paid for. 

But Susan Mulligan, Calleguas' general manager' said on Wednesday that it is illegal to take water from outside the district whether it is paid for or not. 

Hydrant: Officials say water was taken from a fire hydrant just outside the district more than 12 times between 2013 and 2015 (stock image) 

Hydrant: Officials say water was taken from a fire hydrant just outside the district more than 12 times between 2013 and 2015 (stock image) 

The Hidden Valley enclave, which holds 37 ranches owned by celebrities and the business elite, is not connected to the public water supply, the Sentinel reports. 

The Hidden Valley Municipal Water District does not provide drinking water, instead, the Sentinel reports, residents get their water from about 100 wells.

A district official told the site that some of the wells dry up during a drought, forcing residents to look elsewhere for water. 

Selleck is not the only Hidden Valley resident to receive a cease-and-desist order, Bergh said. Another resident received one and apologized to Calleguas.  

  

 

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