Councilman Chas Kelley pleaded guilty to felony perjury for lying about misusing campaign funds. According to the complaint, Kelley knowingly submitting false information related to campaign contributions he received from July 2006 to June 2012.
"On numerous occasions, I committed perjury by falsely stating as true the amount money I was depositing and withdrawing from my Friends of Chas Kelley account," Kelley said in court.
The investigation into Kelly began in October 2011 after an anonymous person came forward.
"Obviously, Mr. Kelley is deeply embarrassed about these matters," said Kelley's attorney Greg Kassel.
Under the terms of a plea deal, Kelley will be placed on probation for five years and will serve 90 days in county jail. He also resigned his seat and will no longer run for mayor.
"It's a good day for the citizens because as a result of his plea and eventual conviction and sentencing, he'll be ineligible to hold any public office," said Reza Sadeghi of the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.
The allegations come in the midst of the city's ongoing bankruptcy crisis.
"As it is, the city of San Bernardino is just really going through so much, it's really sad that someone that we think we could count on, we can't. It's heartbreaking," said Alma Pasillas of San Bernardino.
In a different matter, San Bernardino Councilman Robert Jenkins was charged by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office with 30 counts in a case involving identity theft and stalking charges. Jenkins is accused of placing online sex ads using his ex-boyfriend's information and directing those who responded to the ads to his ex's address and that of another man.
According to an arrest declaration, Jenkins allegedly forged police documents in an attempt to make it seem he was also a victim in the online scheme.
"I was quite frankly stunned at those allegations, 30 in number. That is a lightning bolt out of the blue," said San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris.
Jenkins represents the second ward in the city. He was in court Thursday, where he posted $25,000 bond. He is due back in court on Dec. 17.
