A Los Angeles city councilman’s former aide pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he and his wife were involved in an elaborate scheme in which personal expenses were paid on behalf of a now-former member of the West Basin Municipal Water District’s board of directors.
Robert Earl Katherman Jr., a 68-year-old former aide to Councilman Curren Price Jr., and his wife, Marilyn Katherman, 65, are charged with two felony counts each of misappropriation of public funds.
They remain free on their own recognizance while awaiting their next appearance in a Torrance courtroom on Nov. 6.
The Kathermans were charged July 2 along with Ronald Craig Smith, 55, who was on the water district’s board of directors.
Smith pleaded guilty Sept. 8 to one count of conflict of interest, and submitted his resignation to the water district as a condition of his plea deal. He was sentenced to 180 days in county jail and five years probation, and was ordered to pay more than $17,000 in restitution to the water district.
Prosecutors said Smith got the water district’s board to make multiple contributions to help sponsor the Adopt A Storm Drain Foundation, a nonprofit educational foundation run by the Kathermans to promote water conservation. Smith also contributed money from his district outreach fund that did not require board approval, according to prosecutors.
The Kathermans allegedly began writing checks from foundation accounts to schools and organizations without any connection to the foundation shortly after receiving the donations from the West Basin Municipal Water District.
The money went toward tuition for Smith’s son and two daughters, along with a $3,500 check to repair his boat, according to prosecutors.
— City News Service