Day Four of Local Councilman Steve Bridge’s Preliminary Hearing

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) - Lompoc city councilman Steve Bridge, who's accused of fraud, appeared for the fourth day of his preliminary hearing this morning.

Some of the most damaging testimony against the Lompoc councilman came from a private investigator.

Detective Ronald Murillo testified Steve Bridge claimed he "ginned up the invoices,” that he was the "guilty party,” telling the investigator his actions were “a little shady.”

A city utilities employee testified about how the city rebate program at the center of the case works.

Bridge is accused of defrauding the program.

The employee says a water leak rebate application at a house owned by Bridge was flagged due to an incorrect address.

That led to the discovery of additional oddities on other invoices and eventually to the fraud charges.

The hearing is scheduled to resume in three weeks.

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