Former Bell City Councilman Sentenced To Probation, 1 Year In Jail
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A judge Friday placed former Bell City Councilman George Mirabal on five years of probation and ordered him to serve about one year in jail for bilking taxpayers through an inflated salary.
While he was originally sentenced to state prison, Mirabal will serve his time in Los Angeles County jail. Mirabal also most perform 1,000 hours of community service and pay more than $242,000 in restitution.
KNX 1070's Margaret Carrero reports after Judge Kathleen Kennedy issued the sentence, Mirabal apologized to the court and the people of Bell saying he failed in his duties.
Former Bell City Councilman Sentenced To Probation, 1 Year In Jail
Deputy District Attorney Sean Hassett was disappointed knowing Mirabal may end up spending as little as a week behind bars.
"There's nothing we could do," Hassett said. "It's completely up to the sheriff."
He is due to surrender by July 25.
In addition to Mirabel, former city manager Robert Rizzo, former assistant city manager Angela Spaccia, former police Chief Randy Adams and former council members Oscar Hernandez, Teresa Jacobo, Victor Bello and George Cole were all charged in 2010 with misappropriation of public funds. Rizzo was also charged with falsification of public records by an official custodian and conflict of interest.
Mirabel and four others pleaded no contest in April and faced a maximum of four years in prison.
Last October, Rizzo pleaded no contest to 69 counts, including misappropriation of public funds and perjury. He is currently serving two consecutive prison sentences up to 12 years in Lompoc.
Spaccia was also sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison in April.
