OXNARD : Promoters Deny Grand Theft Charges
Two former promoters of an Oxnard card club pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony charges of grand theft and will stand trial April 4.
Michael E. Wooten, 45, of Camarillo and Frank Marasco, 48, of Ventura also face a misdemeanor trial on six counts of money laundering in connection with political contributions made to the campaigns of four public officials.
The men were charged in both cases in October.
In the grand theft case, prosecutors say the defendants--co-owners of the defunct Darrik Marten Co. in Ventura--submitted a $10,000 construction voucher to a consortium of Ventura County investors, then used the money personally without telling the lender.
The misdemeanor money-laundering trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 22.
Wooten and Marasco are charged with illegally reimbursing three former employees for contributions to former Oxnard City Councilwoman Dorothy Maron’s 1990 council campaign, Assemblyman Nao Takasugi’s 1992 Assembly campaign, Councilman Michael Plisky’s 1992 mayoral bid and Councilman Thomas Holden’s council campaign.
Authorities say the politicians were unaware of the true source of the contributions.
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