MOORPARK : Councilman Quizzed in Grand Jury Probe

Moorpark City Councilman Scott Montgomery underwent almost two hours of questioning before the Ventura County grand jury Thursday morning, his attorney said.

Montgomery had spent more than three hours before the panel Monday, answering questions about a $3,500 payment he received from a Simi Valley trash company executive.

Attorney Dan Schmidt said Montgomery told him the questions seemed to focus on whether the payment was adequately disclosed on campaign financial statements and whether Montgomery’s votes on trash contracts with the company--G.I. Industries--presented any conflict of interest.

“I went away with a very good feeling,” Schmidt said after his client left the morning session. “It seems nothing more than a routine inquiry to determine whether or not campaign documents were properly filled out and whether or not there was any conflict of interest.”

Montgomery’s appearance before the grand jury comes after more than 10 months of investigation by prosecutors from the district attorney’s office into the $3,500 payment made in 1993.

Montgomery said he received the money from the sale of a computer to G.I. Sweeping, a street and graffiti removal company operated by Manuel Asadurian Sr.

However, Asadurian, who was chief executive officer of G.I. Industries at the time, said the payment was a short-term loan to Montgomery that still has not been paid back.

Asadurian and several other G.I. Industry officials also testified before the grand jury Monday.

Schmidt, who said he is confident his client has done nothing wrong, added that Montgomery will probably have to return to testify next week.

‘I get the distinct impression that they want to continue the inquiry and bring in other witnesses,” he said.