A Lompoc judge on Thursday rejected council member Steve Bridge’s effort to throw out criminal charges against him, while also refusing a prosecution request to move the trial to Santa Barbara, keeping the case in the North County for now.
Judge Juan Higuera issued the rulings following arguments over alleged forged invoices, the intent behind city rebate applications and whether local political tensions could make it difficult to seat an impartial jury in Lompoc.
Bridge’s attorney, Michael Scott, argued that the evidence did not establish forgery or an intent to defraud the city. Deputy District Attorney Brian Cota countered that the preliminary hearing record supported the charges and that the defense was raising arguments better suited for a jury…