Prosecutor Charged With Sex Bribery

A prosecutor for the city attorneys office was charged Friday with soliciting a bribe by offering an 18-year-old woman accused of forgery a lighter sentence if she would have sex with him.

George Schwartz, 42, of West Hills has been on paid leave since he was arrested Aug. 25 as he left the Van Nuys courthouse for lunch. He is scheduled for arraignment Sept. 22 and is free on $3,000 bail. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted of soliciting a bribe from the woman.

Schwartz, who has worked at the Van Nuys courthouse for 10 years, allegedly offered last month to recommend a reduced sentence for passing a forged check if she would plead guilty and have sex with him.

The 18-year-old defendant, who did not have an attorney at the time, eventually obtained a lawyer and mentioned the alleged offer. The lawyer told her to complain to Schwartz’s supervisor.

Police were called in and arranged to have the woman meet with Schwartz at a shopping center in Woodland Hills.

The woman wore a concealed recording device, and her conversations with Schwartz were taped.