Pair Plead Not Guilty to Campaign Charges
Stephen Sheldon of the conservative Traditional Values Coalition and Lake Forest attorney Rex Brady have pleaded not guilty to charges they violated Anaheim’s campaign contribution ordinance in the November election.
The two were arraigned Wednesday in Municipal Court in Fullerton on five misdemeanor counts of accepting contributions in excess of the $1,000 limit.
The defendants were involved with the Business and Taxpayers Good Government Committee, which raised $46,000 from conservative businessmen, Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood and the Commerce Club, the state’s largest poker casino.
The committee was not connected to any candidate. Contributions ranged from $5,000 to $15,000.
Campaign disclosure reports show that about $32,000 was spent for materials that attacked moderate Anaheim council candidates, incumbent Frank Feldhaus, who lost, and Shirley McCracken, who was elected.
Ed Hall, the attorney representing Sheldon and Brady, said Wednesday that his clients did not realize they were violating the city’s ordinance. Hall also said he may challenge the constitutionality of Anaheim’s ordinance.
A pretrial hearing was set for Oct. 28. If convicted, Sheldon and Brady could face $5,000 each in fines and six months in jail.
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