Kathermans Acquitted DA Jackie Lacy Wasted Millions! As a jury Tuesday acquitted a long reknown L A lobbyist and former L.A. City Council aide accused of corruption, rejecting charges that he and his wife participated in a scheme to help since convicted West Basin Municipal Water District Board member Ron Smith siphon thousands of dollars in public money for personal use.

After more than two days of deliberation in a Torrance courthouse, jurors found Robert Katherman Jr., 69, and his wife, Marilyn, 67, not guilty of felony counts of misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement.

A third defendant, Ronald Craig Smith, treasurer of the West Basin Municipal Water District, pleaded guilty in 2014 to embezzling nearly $20,000 from the agency.ter a description.

The entire case against the Kathermans relied on the testimony of Smith a former friend who has plead guilty and traded a lenient sentence for his testimony against the Kathermans. It is now evident the jurors saw this case as Ron Smith getting a sweet hard deal to testify against the Kathermans. Smith got only a 180 day sentence.

The DA’s office has wasted over $1 million in this reckless pursuit to convict as the Kathermans Acquitted DA Jackie Lacy Wasted Millions.