Trial Date Set for Top Aide to Rohrabacher

SANTA ANA — A top aide to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) faces a July 16 trial on charges she violated the state’s Political Reform Act in 1991.

Municipal Judge William Evans set the trial date Wednesday in the case against Rhonda Carmony, Rohrabacher’s campaign manager. Carmony, 26, is charged with seven misdemeanors for her alleged role in the production of a campaign mailer used to attack a Diamond Bar City Council member who was running for reelection.

Carmony allegedly failed to comply with campaign finance and reporting requirements of the state law after an independent committee funded and sent the hit piece during the 1991 campaign.

Each count carries a possible sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, prosecutors said.

Carmony, who is a member of the Orange County Republican Central Committee, also faces trial in Superior Court in August for her alleged role in placing a Democratic spoiler on the ballot in last year’s special election in the 67th Assembly District.

She is charged with three felony counts of conspiracy and election fraud in connection with a scheme to circulate nominating papers for the decoy candidate.