Free Republic

Former Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony count of possessing cocaine and one misdemeanor count of child endangerment, the District Attorney's Office announced. As part of a plea agreement, Murphy, 47, also will enter a drug-diversion program, attend drug counseling sessions and return to court for progress reports, said Deputy District Attorney Thomas Krag. Murphy also agreed to attend parenting classes and be supervised by the courts for five years. "This is an appropriate resolution for a defendant who was a leader in the community, but whose drug use clouded her judgment and put...

DOWNTOWN BURBANK -- Citing potential "distractions" stemming from her arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession and child endangerment, City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy resigned from the City Council Tuesday, ending a more than eight-year run on the dais and setting the stage for a special election to fill her seat. In a letter addressed to City Manager Mary Alvord, Murphy said it was with a heavy heart that she was stepping down from the council "This is not an easy decision for me personally, however, for the best interests of our city, and my children, it is the right thing to...

LOS ANGELES (AP) The longtime boyfriend of a Burbank city councilwoman has been charged with weapons and drug violations in connection with a notorious street gang. Scott Schaffer, companion of Burbank Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy, was charged Wednesday and is being held on suspicion of trading guns to a gang member for cocaine. Schaffer's attorney said his client would plead not guilty at his arraignment Monday. Schaffer was arrested July 13 after authorities found a gun registered in his name at the home of a San Fernando Valley gang member. Authorities said Schaffer traded two guns for cocaine. Court papers...

BURBANK, Calif. -- Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy said Tuesday she will stay on the job despite her arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession and child endangerment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 14 Images: Councilwoman Arrested June 29 Images: Vineland Boyz Arrests Police Arrest 22 During Operation Swift Intruder Burbank Councilwoman Accused Of Vineland Boyz Gang Ties -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I cannot comment specifically on the allegations made against me," Murphy wrote in a letter to City Manager Mary Alvord that was read at Tuesday's Burbank City Council meeting. "I intend to do the job you elected me to do, and I plan on...

BURBANK, Calif. -- About 600 police officers raided homes from the San Fernando Valley to Palmdale overnight, in Operation Swift Intruder, a broad operation targeting violent gang members suspected in the shooting deaths of two officers. The raid on members of the Vineland Boyz follows a similar, larger raid against the gang last month. LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said officers were serving search warrants at more than 20 locations and had made at least 14 arrests by 6 a.m. Vernon said that two other suspects were already in custody, bringing the number of alleged gang members in custody to 16....

Burbank Councilwoman Arrested # For Alleged Cocaine Possession, Child Endangerment Jul 15, 2005 7:40 am US/Pacific BURBANK, Calif. (AP) A city councilwoman was arrested for investigation of cocaine possession and child endangerment by members of a task force that recently raided a notorious street gang blamed in the shooting deaths of two police officers, authorities said Thursday. Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy, 47, was arrested Wednesday night at her home, where law enforcement agents served a federal search warrant, police said. She posted $100,000 bail and was released from jail Thursday. A phone call left for Murphy at her office Thursday...

Friends and acquaintances expressed shock and disbelief Friday at allegations that City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy led a double life -- do-gooder civic leader and cocaine abuser who hung out at a bar with known gangsters. Murphy's arrest after police found drugs and guns at her Lima Street home grew out of a lengthy investigation into the notorious Vineland Boys street gang, which authorities blame for a long list of crimes, including the killing of Burbank police Officer Matthew Pavelka. Across Burbank, those who know Murphy, 47, were having trouble making the allegations jibe with their image of a successful...

BURBANK, Calif. - A city councilwoman was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession after her boyfriend told authorities they had used the drug together and he had associated with a notorious street gang and sold guns to a member.

Burbank police have arrested City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy on suspicion of cocaine possession and child endangerment. Sgt. Jay Jette of the Burbank Police Department says a federal search warrant was served yesterday at Murphy's home. Murphy was held at Burbank city jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, Jette says. A news conference is scheduled this afternoon to discuss the arrest.