A member of the Lompoc City Council entered not-guilty pleas to multiple criminal charges in Santa Barbara County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Steve Bridge, 74, entered his pleas and denied the special allegations, or sentencing enhancements, before Judge Gustavo Lavayen.

In the spring, a different judge deemed that enough evidence remained for Bridge to continue to face charges and for the case to proceed toward trial. Some of the charges were dropped, but others were others added.

The criminal complaint, or information, filed after a preliminary hearing earlier this year includes a combination of felony and misdemeanor charges adding up to 25 counts. 

Bridge reportedly submitted paperwork for city-operated rebate programs related to lighting efficiency and water leak repairs.

The charges, first filed in November, arose after Bridge submitted paperwork for rebates, but included a contracting firm and state license number for an out-of-town inactive company with a name that matched his stepson’s.

The felonies include forgery, grand theft, misappropriation of public funds, fraudulent use of a contractor’s license number, identify theft, presentation of a fraudulent claim, preparing false document evidence and offering false evidence. 

Misdemeanor charges include failure to secure workers compensation insurance by an unlicensed contractor, contracting without a license and petty theft.

The case is scheduled to return to court July 1 for a readiness and settlement conference. 

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, when he faced one challenger.

He continues to serve on the City Council while the case moves through the court system, rejecting calls for his resignation.