Convicted Prosecutor’s Charge Is Reduced
The charge against a former top prosecutor whose conviction for felony grand theft became an issue in the district attorney’s race has been reduced to a misdemeanor.
Peter Longanbach, 57, the former head of the district attorney’s economic fraud unit, received the lesser charge Friday after completing 351 hours of volunteer work at a shelter for the homeless.
In November 2001, he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of using his government staff in his private real estate dealings.
Longanbach’s case was a political embarrassment to Dist. Atty. Paul Pfingst, who was criticized by his opponents during his reelection campaign for allowing Longanbach’s conduct to occur on his watch.
On Tuesday, Pfingst lost his bid for reelection to Superior Court Judge Bonnie Dumanis, although the results won’t be made official until all the absentee votes are counted.
The California State Bar has suspended Longanbach’s law license, and he is earning money through “real-estate interests,” his attorney Pat Swan said.
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