John Drayman to Appear in Court Sept. 27

A former Glendale City Councilman facing felony embezzlement charges appeared in court Thursday morning to set his trial date for Sept. 27. 

John Drayman has been  that he allegedly embezzled nearly $305,000 from the  while he served as director, according to the District Attorney's Office. 

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There are still items of discovery, including Glendale police reports and documents that the district attorney's office plans to turn over to the defense, said Deputy District Attorney Dana Aratani. 

Judge Stephen A. Marcus met with Aratani, Drayman and Drayman's attorney, Michael Kraut, on Thursday morning in Downtown Los Angeles.

Kraut explained to the judge that Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Susan Schwartz, who is co-counsel with Deputy District Attorney Dana Aratani, is also his friend for the past 15 years and they worked together when Kraut was at the district attorney's office.  

Kraut told Marcus that he and Schwartz are "extremely close friends, we dine together still, we do dinner at each other's houses." Marcus asked Drayman if he was still willing to have Kraut represent him knowing the relationship between Schwartz and his representation. Drayman agreed to continue the trial with Kraut as his representation. 

Marcus also said he will review the grand jury transcripts before the Sept. 27 court date. 

"It will eventually be a jury trial unless both sides agree to court trial," Aratani said, adding that the defense could also look for potential motions at the next date.