Councilman Charged in Forgery Case

Orange County prosecutors charged a city councilman Wednesday with two felony counts for allegedly submitting campaign nomination papers with forged signatures before the 1998 and 2000 elections.

The charges cap a lengthy investigation by the district attorney’s office and Costa Mesa police that could result in Councilman Chris Steel losing his seat and facing a three-year prison sentence if convicted.

Steel said he signed a blind woman’s name on his 1998 nomination papers because she was having difficulty signing. The councilman also admits allowing a husband to sign his wife’s name on his 2000 nomination papers. The woman, he said, was a longtime supporter who would have signed had she been available.

Steel, who said political enemies were behind the charges, vowed to prove his innocence in court.