Bay Area Briefs

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge sentenced a man to more than five years in prison after he admitted paying for sex with underage girls in Cambodia.

Michael John Koklich, 49, was arrested by local police in Phnom Penh on Feb. 17, 2006 after a non-governmental organization, Action Pour Les Enfants, reported that Koklich had been spotted with several young Cambodian girls.

He was deported a month later and is the latest in a series of Americans arrested in Cambodia on suspicion of sexually abusing children to be sent back to the United States under the Protect Act, which allows the U.S. to handle Americans accused of abusing children in foreign countries.

Koklich pleaded guilty Tuesday to traveling to Cambodia to have sex with children.

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker also ordered Koklich to pay restitution to two minor female victims totaling $10,000.

Koklich spent as many as nine months a year living in Cambodia. The rest of the time he spent living a recreational vehicle in the Bay Area.

City lawyer says Newsom's paramour was entitled to $10,000 back pay

SAN FRANCISCO -- The woman Mayor Gavin Newsom had an affair with was entitled to the $10,000 she collected in sick pay after working at City Hall, the city attorney concluded Wednesday.

Ruby Rippey-Tourk's request to participate in a program for city employees with life-threatening illnesses was approved by San Francisco's public health director, according to a report requested by City Attorney Dennis Herrera.

"We found no evidence of undue influence by Mayor Newsom," the report said.

Several city supervisors had questioned whether Rippey-Tourk got preferential treatment because of her relationship with the mayor.

Investigators said they could not say "whether other city officials treated her application more favorably" because Rippey-Tourk, the mayor's former appointments secretary and the wife of his now-former campaign manager, refused to allow them to discuss the nature of her illness.

It was widely reported after Newsom acknowledged the affair on Feb. 1 that she applied for the pay while seeking treatment for substance abuse.

The investigation also showed that Rippey-Tourk was entitled to the more than 1,000 hours of paid leave she took during the nearly three years she served on Newsom's staff.

New gift from Haas fund to

add trails, overlooks to Presidio

SAN FRANCISCO -- A $15 million gift announced Wednesday will add new trails, overlooks and camping sites to the Presidio of San Francisco, a former Army base that is now a cherished waterfront park.

The donation from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is intended to build 24 miles of walking trails, 17 miles of bicycle paths and six scenic overlooks. It will also improve and expand Rob Hill Campground, the only space designated for camping in the city.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat who represents San Francisco and was instrumental in establishing the park when the Army turned over the post in 1994, celebrated the donation at the announcement overlooking the Presidio.

"A great family has once again taken the lead in having us take advantage of all the beauty of nature," Pelosi said.

Part of the gift, $10 million, is contingent on raising another $7 million.