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Politics & Government

Former City Councilman Gartman Convicted of Theft

No-contest plea reduces charge in embezzlement of more than $8,000 from Memorial Day Parade Committee.

Former Gilroy City Councilman Craig Gartman entered a no-contest plea Thursday and was convicted of one count of misdemeanor grand theft after embezzling more than $8,000 from the Memorial Day Parade Committee, which he headed from 2002-08. 

The plea and conviction in Santa Clara County Superior Court closes a case that goes back to 2009, when the District Attorney’s office examined claims that Gartman had misused funds and failed to share information on the parade’s accounts with fellow committee members. An investigation revealed he took $8,682.32 from the private committee’s bank account and used them for his own benefit.

Gartman, 53, turned himself in June 2 and was charged with felony grand theft.  

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The Santa Clara County DA’s office said in a statement Friday that prosecutors were willing to reduce the charge when Gartman produced in court a $6,200 cashier’s check payable to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Gilroy. The payment was accepted as restitution, because the VFW has similar charitable purposes to the parade committee, which disbanded in 2008. Gartman paid the VFW $2,500 in November 2010.  

Gartman was sentenced immediately to two years of court probation and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. The original felony charge was punishable by up to three years in state prison.

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Gartman served on the City Council from 2001-10, serving two terms.

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