Posted on 08/25/2005 3:31:31 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor child endangerment.
Murphy, 47, is due back in court Sept. 28, when a date will be set for a hearing to determine if there's enough evidence for her to stand trial.
Bail for Murphy had been set at $100,000, but Judge Janice Croft altered that arrangement this morning, releasing her on her own recognizance.
The former Burbank mayor, who has served on the Burbank City Council since 1997, was arrested July 13 after a federal search warrant was served at her home in connection with an investigation into the Vineland Boyz street gang.
She was released the following day after posting $100,000 bail and said the following week that she intended to stay on the job despite her arrest.
"I intend to do the job you elected me to do, and I plan on continuing throughout my entire term," she said in a July 19 letter to City Manager Mary Alvord. "I want my children to know that I am sorry that they have been subjected to the stories and press coverage these allegations have generated. I love them very much."
"Because my situation will impact the regular course of business, for that reason and that reason alone, I will not attend City Council meetings until after I have appeared in court," she said.
Murphy's longtime boyfriend, Scott Schaffer, is awaiting trial in U.S. District Court. He was arrested for alleged federal firearms and narcotics violations during a search of his Glendale home just hours before Murphy's arrest.
Schaffer is suspected of supplying semiautomatic handguns to members of the Vineland Boyz gang in exchange for drugs, Burbank police said last month.
Say it ain't so, Stacey Jo!
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