Lompoc City Council Member Stephen Bridge on Wednesday said he was innocent after being hit last week with eight fraud-related counts tied to alleged misusing funds, including from a city rebate program.

On Monday, Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced the charges, which include identity theft, fraudulent use of a contractor’s license number, two counts of grand theft of personal property and four counts of forgery. The complaint was filed on Nov. 18 in Santa Maria Superior Court.

Bridge, 68, is scheduled to appear for an arraignment on Dec. 4 before retired San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Teresa Estrada-Mullaney in the Santa Maria court’s Miller Division. Bridge did not say if he had an attorney.

“I can say that I'm innocent and will be making a

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