Ex-Glendale councilman unlikely to serve full 1-year jail sentence

Former Glendale Councilman John Drayman, convicted of embezzlement, is only expected to serve roughly half of the one-year jail term he was sentenced to on Monday.

Drayman -- sentenced in Los Angeles County Superior Court after pleading guilty to embezzlement, perjury and filing false tax returns related to the loss of at least $304,000 from a local farmers market -- must also serve five years’ probation.

But the former councilman is expected be released from Los Angeles County Jail on Sept. 26, which would cut his sentence by roughly half, the Glendale News-Press reported. Even then, his time behind bars could be shortened further if he takes educational classes, serves food or takes other jobs in the jail, said Nicole Nishida, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman.

Due to state prison realignment, inmates convicted of nonviolent or nonsexual crimes could have their sentences reduced in half, Nishida said.

Drayman must still pay about $305,000 in restitution for losses tied to the Montrose farmers market, the News-Press reported. He must also pay about $14,000 in restitution to the California Franchise Tax Board.

Drayman was indicted in May 2012 on charges of embezzling at least $304,000 between 2004 and 2011 from the farmers market, which he helped run before and during his time in office.

Drayman pleaded guilty last month to two other felonies — filing false tax returns related to the embezzlement and perjury.

During his sentencing hearing, Superior Court Judge Stephen Marcus called Drayman a “disgraced” ex-mayor who had shown no remorse.

“In common parlance, you’re a crook,” the judge said.

He has been assigned to Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles, according to his booking report.

Drayman served as Glendale’s mayor in 2008 and 2009. He was on City Council between 2007 and 2011.

brittany.levine@latimes.com

Twitter: @brittanylevine

Brittany Levine is Times Community News staff writer.