LA Councilman Curren Price is arraigned today
Price is set to be arraigned Friday in his criminal case.
A judge is expected to hear the defense’s legal challenge involving the 10 charges against the councilman before the arraignment goes forward.
Defense attorneys contend in a court filing that the five counts of grand theft by embezzlement against Price are “barred by the statute of limitations.”
PREV. COVERAGE: LA City Councilman Curren Price to be arraigned on criminal charges
Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price, who was charged last month with theft by embezzlement, perjury, and other charges, will be arraigned Thursday.
The defense also contends that the allegations in the complaint are “insufficient to allege a crime” involving the two conflict-of-interest charges, and that the facts stated in the complaint involving the three perjury charges “do not constitute a public offense.”
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He added that the prosecution is not barred by the statute of limitations because “the prosecution was initially commenced on June 13, 2023, which was within four years after the completion of the offenses” involving five of the challenged charges.
Price — who will turn 73 on Saturday — has represented the Ninth District, which includes most of South Los Angeles and Exposition Park, since 2013. He previously served in the state Assembly and state Senate.
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Price’s statement went on to say, “As we said when the charges were brought, we believe that the charges filed by the DA’s office are completely unwarranted and that the facts will bear this out. I have always conducted myself, in and out of the public eye, with integrity and professionalism.”
“While I navigate through the judicial system to defend my name against unwarranted charges filed against me, the last thing I want to do is be a distraction to the people’s business,” Price wrote in the letter.
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The embezzlement charge against Curren Price marks the fourth Los Angeles City Councilmember to face indictment.
