San Diego

A 67-year-old man was ordered Monday to stand trial on three felony charges of forgery and grand theft in the alleged embezzlement of funds when he operated bingo games at a Catholic boys’ school.

San Diego Municipal Court Judge Patricia Cowett denied a motion to reduce the charges against Dean Hoffman to misdemeanors. Hoffman’s attorney, Tony Gilham, argued that Hoffman would not be sent to prison if convicted, so the proper charges should be misdemeanors.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Lux opposed the motion, saying the embezzlement was a “continuing course of conduct.”

Hoffman is accused of depositing in his own bank account two checks totaling $1,000 that a bingo vendor had made out to St. Augustine High School in North Park.

Cowett set a Jan. 20 arraignment. Hoffman, who has denied the charges, is free on his own recognizance.