A former assistant engineer for the city of Santa Clarita pleaded not guilty Monday to embezzling more than half a million dollars.
David Rubira, 40, of Newhall, is facing seven counts of embezzlement of public funds and one count of public officer embezzling for personal use.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Walgren set bail at $675,000 and ordered Rubira taken into custody.
Rubira is accused of fraudulently routing more than $533,000 in refunds to fictitious companies between November 2012 and April 2015. The monies were posted as bond by construction companies working on city building projects.
If convicted as charged, Rubira faces a maximum sentence of nearly 14 years in prison.
He is due back in court Sept. 30, when a date is expected to be set for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
–City News Service