Ex-Compton Mayor Avoids More Prison Time In Corruption Case
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley was sentenced Wednesday to three years' probation and one year in county jail already served after being convicted last month of misappropriating and misusing taxpayer funds.
It marked the second time he had been convicted in the same case.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli suspended a three-year state prison term that the 59-year-old former city leader will not have to serve if he complies with the terms of his probation.
The judge cited Bradley's age and lack of prior criminal history.
Bradley -- who was born and raised in Compton -- was a city councilman between 1991 and 1993 and mayor from 1993 until 2001. He now faces a lifetime ban on holding public office.
Bradley was found guilty July 28 of one felony count each of misappropriation of public funds by a public officer and misuse of public funds by a public officer for personal gain.
Bradley was first convicted in 2004, sentenced to three years in prison and then later moved to a halfway house. But his conviction was overturned in 2012 as a result of a California Supreme Court ruling involving public officer crimes. While awaiting a retrial, he unsuccessfully ran for mayor twice against Aja Brown.
At his retrial, Bradley testified that he never used any city money for personal expenses. He insisted that any city dollars he spent were for the benefit of Compton.
The former mayor testified that he had played golf with officials in order to discuss several city projects, and bought golf clothing to look the part.
Deputy District Attorney Ana Lopez countered that Bradley's spending was "purely personal" and offered "no public benefit."
The prosecutor said Bradley clearly understood the rules, but that accountability for spending became "very relaxed" in Compton after the city council approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of city credit cards to council members without any public comment on the issue.
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