PASADENA — A former mayor of Burbank agreed to enter a drug diversion program and attend drug and parenting classes in exchange for remaining out of jail after pleading guilty to cocaine possession and child endangerment charges.
If Stacey Jo Murphy doesn’t complete the drug and parental sessions she could be sentenced to as much as three years in prison on the felony drug charge and up to six months in jail on the misdemeanor endangerment charge. On the other hand, if she fulfills all requirements she can petition the court to dismiss the case.
"This is an appropriate resolution for a defendant who was a leader in the community, but whose drug use clouded her judgment and put her young son’s life in potential danger,” Deputy District Attorney Thomas Krag said after Murphy entered her pleas Thursday before Superior Court Judge Janice Croft.
Authorities said police found cocaine in Murphy’s bedroom and three semiautomatic handguns and ammunition in a duffel bag in a garage 12-year-old son used as a playroom.
She was arrested July 13 after police searched her home as part of a larger investigation of the Vineland Boyz street gang, one of whom is awaiting trial on charges of murdering a Burbank police officer.
Authorities also arrested Murphy’s companion, Scott Schaffer, who is facing federal charges of trading guns to a gang member for cocaine.
Murphy, 47, had been a member of the Burbank City Council for eight years until resigning shortly after her arrest. She served as the city’s mayor in 1999-2000 and 2003-04.
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