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Trial for former Glendale councilman could take place in fall

Former Glendale Councilman John Drayman arrives at the C. S. Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles to be arraigned on charges on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.
(Raul Roa/Staff photographer)
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Former City Councilman John Drayman — indicted on embezzlement, fraud and more than two dozen other charges last year — will have to wait two more months before finding out when he’ll get his day in court.

Drayman, who maintains his innocence, said after a pre-trial hearing Tuesday morning at a courthouse in downtown Los Angeles that he is looking forward to the trial.

“I’m kind of anxious to get there,” he said.

Drayman was indicted by a grand jury in May 2012 for allegedly embezzling at least $304,000 over the course of about seven years from the weekly farmers market in Montrose, the proceeds of which benefit the quaint shopping area along Honolulu Street. The indictment also includes charges of filing false tax statements, fraud, forgery and money laundering.

The indictment came after an extensive, nearly year-long police investigation that began after board members of the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. reported their allegations to police.

Drayman, who helped establish the market, collected fees from the vendors and counted the cash before turning it over to the board. At one point, organizers said he hadn’t handed over the money for nearly a year.

The market’s revenues have skyrocketed since Drayman was removed from the picture and the board instituted stricter financial reporting oversight rules.

Tuesday marked the fifth time Drayman has had a pre-trial hearing since being indicted. The ex-councilman has also been through multiple attorneys, including two public defenders.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephen A. Marcus said the trial may take place in September or October.

And the trial, when it does happen, will likely be in front of a jury, said county Deputy Dist. Atty. Dana Aratani said.

“We’re going to be prepared for the case,” Aratani said.

Another hearing is scheduled for July.

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Follow Brittany Levine on Google+ and on Twitter: @brittanylevine.

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