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Home > Desert Oracle Radio > MVCSD meeting recap: resignations, battery allegations and harassment claims mark first meeting of 2026
Podcast: Desert Oracle Radio
Episode:

MVCSD meeting recap: resignations, battery allegations and harassment claims mark first meeting of 2026
Category: Society & Culture
Duration: 00:00:00
Publish Date: 2026-01-15 16:39:21
Description:

The Morongo Valley Community Services District (MVCSD) Board of Directors held a special session meeting on Wednesday night (January 12) to discuss ongoing allegations of battery against Director Johnny Tolbert. Local business owner Christopher Cross says Toblert attacked him at a Thanksgiving food giveaway, which was an official CSD event. Also discussed at the meeting was the resignation of Director Eva Rowles, which she claimed was due to harassment from Cross, who owns the Morongo Cookie Company and was formerly her landlord.

Yesterday, Park Commissioner Eva Rowles resigned from the CSD board, citing “persistent pattern of concerning conduct by Christopher Cross… that has created an unsafe, intimidating, and uncomfortable environment.” Rowles has also since resigned from the Morongo Valley Firefighters Auxiliary where she served on the Board with Cross. 

Starting with public comment, Christopher Cross said he was aware of Eva Rowles’ resignation calling her statements against him “inflammatory and retaliatory.” Cross is currently demanding Finance Director Johnny Tolbert resign from the Board due to an alleged battery last November during a heated argument and is threatening legal action against the CSD if they don’t make the video of the incident public. 

“What else is it gonna take? Because I’m not gonna stop. The truth is there. I’m not gonna stop, and I don’t care. I don’t care how long it takes me, I don’t care if they sell another cookie. I will not stop until I have attained those items and cleared my name and made it public,” said Cross.

Tolbert stated the reason why they haven’t released the video is due to “seventy-six issues” legally preventing them, per terms of the SDMRA (Special District Risk Management Authority) who is handling the claim, making it no longer in the CSD’s hands. President Christina Gorke added Tolbert stepping down is not an option since he’s an elected official and the lengthy recall process would not fall within Cross’s urgency. Cross persisted, using the opportunity to announce he would run for Rowle’s newly vacant seat.

“And in fact, I’m going to run for the CSD board because I think accountability and transparency is entirely important,” said Cross.  

The MVCSD and Cross agreed to wait for SDMRA to continue their investigation to see if its grounds for proceeding to court. During Director Reports, Tolbert relayed the incident and subsequent fallout from his point of view:

“As everyone knows there was an argument on November 22nd where an individual did initiate a possible assault on my face. That was what they had done. Since that time, that certain individual has made a purpose to basically attack board members, attack district staff, then come to a meeting and say that he was going to make money off the district? He said this at the last meeting. Yet, this individual claims to care about the district and care about Morongo Valley, and all I’ve seen are the attacks and assaults on district staff and district members. That has nothing to do with showing they care about Morongo Valley. If they do care about Morongo Valley, they will stop harassing district staff and allow them to do their job and we will move forward from there.”

The post MVCSD meeting recap: resignations, battery allegations and harassment claims mark first meeting of 2026 appeared first on Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree.
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