Swedlow Inc., VP Deny Guilt in Federal Case : Indictment: The Garden Grove defense contractor and a vice president responded to charges of falsifying reports on flaws in bomber windshields.

Garden Grove defense contractor Swedlow Inc. and one of its vice presidents pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that they falsified reports to minimize flaws in windshields made for the B-1B bomber.

Norman Gene Nixon, 53, of Orange pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana to four counts of making false statements to the federal government. Swedlow entered the same plea.

Both were indicted last month by a federal grand jury that alleged Nixon directed employees to misrepresent the size of defects in four of the windshields Swedlow produced under a 1988 contract with the Air Force.

Federal Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler has set a trial date of Dec. 19.

“We believe the trial will exonerate us,” said Dennis Kinnaird, Swedlow’s attorney. “We gave them an absolutely perfect windshield. They will be put into use and will fly.”

Nixon’s attorney refused comment.

If convicted, Nixon faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1-million fine, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Edward R. McGah Jr. Swedlow could be fined up to $1 million.

The government--which confirmed that the windshields are flight safe--has said it brought the charges because Swedlow allegedly made unauthorized repairs and then tried to hide that fact by falsifying reports.

Swedlow is one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of military aircraft windows. The company employs about 700 people in Garden Grove and has annual sales of about $60 million.