Former Councilman Pleads 'Not Guilty' to Stealing Parade Funds

Former Gilroy City Councilman Craig Gartman pleaded "not guilty" Tuesday to charges that he stole more than $8,000 from the city's privately-run Memorial Day Parade committee while serving as its chairman from 2002–08.

Gartman, 53, arrived at the 9 a.m. hearing at the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill with his wife and daughter, speaking only to confirm his birthdate while his attorney, Kirk Elliott, requested that the next hearing be on August 19.

Judge JoAnne McCrackin granted the request and returned the $10,000 bail to Gartman. She released him on his own recognisance.

"We're going to be doing a forensic accounting of everything," Elliott said.

Gartman's attorney said that he would be looking through "thousands of documents" in the coming weeks and that the death of some witnesses cited in the district attorney's investigation could affect the case.

The judge also approved a "977 waiver" that would allow Elliott to be present in Gartman's place for future hearings, and Gartman waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Gartmen turned himself in June 2 after the charge of a single count of felony grand theft of the parade funds.

Gartman, 53, allegedly took the parade donations for his own personal benefit, according to the DA's office.

The former councilman headed fundraising efforts for the committee, which changed its composition in 2009, and had primary control of its finances.

Investigators from the DA's office have been looking into Gartman's involvement in the committee since 2009, examining claims that he misused funds and failed to share information on the parade's accounts with fellow committee members, according to court documents.

Gartman was arrested and released earlier this month after posting bail, according to the district attorney.

The charge is punishable by up to three years in state prison.