Lompoc City Councilman Stephen “Steve” Bridge pleaded not guilty to eight felony criminal charges Thursday morning in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
Represented by defense attorney Michael Scott, the elected official made his first court appearance in the case for the arraignment hearing before Judge Teresa Estrada-Mullaney.
Last month, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint charging Bridge with four felony counts of forgery and two felony counts of grand theft of personal property. The complaint identified the victim as the city of Lompoc and the amounts being $5,076.66 and $4,917.
Additionally, he has been charged with fraudulent use of a contractor’s license number and identify theft related to a contractor’s license assigned to Turner and Associates.
The forgery charges involve Odd Fellows Lodge and a business, Certain Sparks, that Bridge has ties to in Lompoc.
Another charge is linked to an invoice purportedly from Turner Construction and submitted to a one of Bridge’s companies identified in the criminal complaint as BBES, which apparently stands for Bridge Business and Entrepreneur Services.
The fourth felony forgery charge is connected to a city of Lompoc rebate program application, according to the criminal complaint.
The alleged crimes occurred between February 2024 and March 2025, according the criminal complaint.
During the court hearing, Bridge pleaded not guilty and his attorney also waived the right to a speedy trial.
The case will return to court in Santa Maria on Jan. 15 when the judge and attorneys may set a date for the preliminary hearing. It initially was set for Lompoc but later switched to Santa Maria court.
After the brief hearing, Bridge’s attorney noted the filing of criminal complaint isn’t proof of wrongdoing, but an invitation to come to court.
“Mr. Bridge came to court, he entered his not guilty pleas unequivocally. He has committed no crime. He did not intend to defraud anybody. He did not derive any personal benefit from anything or anyone,” Scott said.
“We would hope that the public would withhold judgment until they’ve head all the evidence,” Scott added. “We’re confident that happens he’ll be found not guilty.”
Bridge, who represents District 1, the northern areas of Lompoc, has served on the City Council for about a year after winning a four-year term in the November 2024 election where he faced one challenger.
He previously served on the Lompoc Planning Commission.
Bridge works for AI Solutions, a NASA contractor at Vandenberg Space Force Base, plus operates several companies including being chief financial officer at FTK, chief executive officer at BBES, and is founder and owner of the Lompoc Wine Factory.
