A Bakersfield College employee pleaded no contest to vandalism charges filed by the Kern County District Attorney’s Office in Superior Court, according to court records.

Pamela Jane Miller, a food service employee, appeared in court accompanied by her attorney, John Tello, where she pleaded no contest to charges that she intentionally scratched a 1993 green Toyota Camry belonging to veteran campus custodian Edison Cruz. A no-contest plea is similar to pleading guilty.

Miller and her attorney, John Tello, were contacted, but declined to comment.

In an earlier interview with The Rip, she denied causing any damages. She continues to work at BC.

The Kern County District Attorney’s Office filed charges in February against Miller after Cruz provided a videotape showing Miller scratching his car.

Cruz said he had noticed scratches on two of his vehicles after changing his normal parking spot back in January.

Cruz and his wife decided to take matters into their own hands by filming the activity around his car.

On Feb. 12, at 5 a.m., his wife and their teenage son filmed a woman who had just parked next to Cruz’s Toyota Camry.

In an interview, Cruz said that the woman left the parking lot but immediately returned, walking between the two parked cars. According to Cruz, that’s when the woman made a swinging motion on his car. He later found scratches.

After filing a report, Cruz was interviewed by Senior Officer John Jamison of the Bakersfield Police Department, who is stationed on the BC campus. Cruz identified the woman on the tape as Miller.

He also filed a grievance with the BC Human Resources Department.

Sandra Thomas, administrative secretary to Ray Quan, director of human resources, confirmed the office had received a grievance from Cruz. Quan was not available for comment.

“Unfortunately, we are not able to discuss anything regarding a grievance because of the confidentiality,” said Thomas.

Cruz said he has had to change a few things in his life since the incident. He has changed his work schedule because Miller’s husband is also a custodian at BC. He also said he stays away from the cafeteria and does not park behind the food service dock area.

He said he has learned a valuable lesson from all of this

“People aren’t what they seem,” he said.

Overall, Cruz said justice was served. His only regret was that he wishes Miller had to pay for the damages made to both vehicles. She was only held accountable for the damages caught on tape, he said.

As part of Miller’s no-contest agreement, she must pay restitution fees by Nov. 29, which includes a $400 estimate on the green 1993 Toyota Camry. She will then be placed on probation for three months. If she fails to pay the fees by the deadline, she will be placed on probation for three years and charges will not be dismissed, according to court records.