Craig Gartman has been charged for the theft of more than $8,000
from the Gilroy Memorial Day Committee, according to the District
Attorney’s Office. Full article
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Former Gilroy City Councilman Craig Gartman self-surrendered to authorities Thursday after being charged with the theft of more than $8,000 from the Gilroy Memorial Day Committee bank account, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
An investigation spanning almost two years revealed that Gartman, 53, solicited donations from local businesses and individuals while heading the privately run community committee, telling donors the money would finance the city’s Memorial Day festivities, said Deputy District Attorney John Chase.
While most of the donations were used for the holiday’s events – including reimbursements for committee members’ personal expenditures in support of the parade – the District Attorney’s office concluded the former mayoral candidate stole the money from the committee for his own use without justification after more than 20 interviews and a review of Gartman’s banking records, Chase said.
Chase said Gartman turned himself in Thursday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The District Attorney’s office said he was released after posting $10,000 cash bail.
A woman at Gartman’s residence who identified herself as his sister-in-law said he wasn’t home Thursday evening, and calls to Gartman’s house and cell phones went unreturned.
Gartman was charged with one count of felony grand theft, a charge that could carry up to three years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s office. He will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, said Amy Cornell, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s office.
Councilman Bob Dillon, who served as the parade’s co-chair alongside Gartman from 2002-2008, said he didn’t think the allegations were true.
“They’re going to have to prove that to me. I find it hard to believe. That would be my statement,” Dillon said.
When asked why he believed this, Dillon responded, “I’ve known Craig a long time. It doesn’t seem like the thing to do.”
Dillon said he met with and was questioned by an investigator from the District Attorney’s office on two occasions about a year ago.
“I didn’t have a whole lot to tell them because I handled the operations side of the parade. Craig handled the finances,” Dillon said.
Dillon said he and Gartman decided not to continue as parade planners because “it sucks up so much of your time.”
The case has roots leading back to an anonymous 2009 complaint sent to police alleging Gartman inappropriately spent about $1,600 of the parade’s roughly $12,000 donations-based budget on restaurant meals for volunteers. Led by Christy Bracco – wife of Councilman Dion Bracco – a new parade committee also claimed Gartman withheld adequate financial records.
The committee’s fund was not an IRS-recognized nonprofit during Gartman’s term as co-chair.
Chase said the District Attorney’s office wasn’t interested in what the money might have been used for.
“This is not a case about purchases of T-shirts and meals. This is about stealing the money without justification,” Chase said.
Gartman was first elected to the City Council in 2001. He was re-elected in 2005, lost a mayoral race to current Mayor Al Pinheiro and served on the Council until 2010.
Recently, he operated a local business, Incentive Awards, which reportedly closed last week.
Chase said no other individuals are expected to be charged “unless something extraordinary happens.”
He did say the District Attorney’s office looked into issues revolving around whether Memorial Day Parade donations were used to influence Gartman’s votes on the Council, but said that either insufficient evidence was found or that the statute of limitations had run out.
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