Former Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante sentenced on sex-related charges

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Former Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante was sentenced Friday to 364 days in jail and five years of probation after pleading guilty to sex-related charges involving five women. He must also register as a sex offender for life.

Prosecutors said Bustamante, who was arrested in July 2012, used his position of power at the Orange County Public Works Department to prey and sexually assault at least seven women he worked with between 2003 and 2012.

Prosecutors said he also stole up to $4,029 in county funds by misleading coworkers into thinking he could use tuition reimbursement funds and expenses for meals to cover part of the costs of Harvard University's Kennedy School training program. At a minimum, he stole $3,150, Deputy District Attorney Brock Zimmon said.

In three years, Bustamante can ask a judge to reduce the felonies to misdemeanors, and after successfully completing probation can request the convictions be expunged.

He's expected to turn himself in on Feb. 26.