Ex-Officer Pleads Not Guilty in Embezzlement
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LOS ANGELES — Appearing in Municipal Court, a former Monrovia police lieutenant Tuesday pleaded not guilty to felony charges that he embezzled about $125,000 from the local police officers association to pay off gambling debts.
James Eugene Ferris, 48, was charged with grand theft from Monrovia Police Officers Assn. funds between December 1994 and December 1998, while he served as treasurer.
He also faces three counts of filing false tax returns and three counts of evading state taxes in 1996, 1997 and 1998. If convicted of the charges he could receive more than six years in prison.
A judge set bail for Ferris at $125,000 and he remained in custody, a district attorney’s office spokeswoman said. A Dec. 7 preliminary hearing was set.
Ferris, formerly of La Verne, was arrested in Northern California on Monday after a district attorney’s investigation into his oversight of police association funds, which go to provide Monrovia officers’ legal protection and support charities throughout the city.
The 18-year veteran resigned from the Police Department on Feb. 2 after it began an internal investigation.
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