Fuhrman Pleads Guilty; Community Service Ordered

Saying it was "a financial decision," former Menifee City Council member Tom Fuhrman pleaded guilty Monday to charges of abusing his power while in office in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

During an appearance at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley, Fuhrman pleaded guilty to one felony count of conflict of interest pertaining to actions taken as a city council member regarding issues in which he had a financial interest. He also entered guilty pleas to three misdemeanor counts related to accusations he attempted to use his official position to influence a governmental decision.

According to John Hall, spokesman for the District Attorney's office, Fuhrman will not be sentenced for one year. If he completes a court-mandated 100 hours of community service before July 27, 2016, the felony count will be dismissed and he will be placed on two years of summary probation.

Fuhrman said that, under the advice of his attorney, he believed the plea agreement was the best decision in moving forward.

"Nobody would be happy, but I am not convicted," Fuhrman said. "There will be no conviction on my record. Basically, it puts my plea in an envelope for a year. Then they'll take it out a year from now and throw it away.

"It was just a financial decision -- 100 hours of community service and it gets dismissed. Why would I spend another $40,000 to $50,000 fighting this?"

Fuhrman was arrested Oct. 23, 2014 by investigators from the District Attorney's office and charged with one felony and misdemeanors. That took place just weeks before his bid for re-election, which he lost to Matt Liesemeyer.

In September 2013, the Menifee City Council authorized a formal complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission, alleging violations of political law regarding conflict of interest. The council also instructed city staff to move forward with code enforcement matters related to Fuhrman's 37-acre Wooden Nickel Ranch in Menifee.

In a statement last December, Fuhrman said he was unfairly targeted by those in the community who were opposed to his defense of rural property owners' rights.

"I am a target because I am the outspoken advocate for the rural community of Menifee," Fuhrman said at the time. "I continuously fight to protect property and Constitutional rights. I have said I will throw myself on the sword for my people."

Fuhrman said Monday that although his health remains an issue following a serious accident on his ranch July 12, 2014, he will have no problem fulfilling his community service and plans to continue being an advocate for the rural property owners of Menifee.

"I will keep an eye on things to see if the city is being fair with people," he said. "I hope Mr. Liesemeyer is doing a good job in representing his district."

Fuhrman said he still has little strength as a result of the injury, suffered when he fell from a ladder while trimming trees on his property. He suffered a punctured lung, eight broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

"I still don't breathe real well and I can't exercise because of my breathing," he said.

Fuhrman said doctors saved his life after his heart stopped during his hospitalization following the injury. A piece of bone that punctured his lung was removed from the lung but was not reattached to his collarbone, he said.