Former Santa Ana City Councilman Carlos Bustamante was sentenced to one year in prison Friday after pleading guilty to attempted sexual battery and assault charges involving several women. His attorney, Brent Romney, said he expects his client to serve just 6 months of that sentence with good behavior, but he will still have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Bustamante was arrested in July of 2012. Prosecutors said he used his power and influence to sexually assault at least seven women while employed at the Orange County Public Works Department.
In addition to the sex-related charges, Bustamante admitted to stealing $3,000 from the county in order to pay for his classes at Harvard University. His actions made him “the local poster child for local abuse of power,” county counsel James Harman told the court.
Read more about Friday’s sentencing here.
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