Schaffer’s family posts $1M bond

Glendale resident Scott Schaffer is in a court-ordered drug treatment

facility after posting $1-million bond to be released from federal

custody on charges of selling handguns to a gang member.

Schaffer’s family put up the money that will assure that he will

continue to make his court appearances, one of his attorney’s, Steven

L. Szocs, said on Monday.

Schaffer was released Aug. 19 after more than a month in federal

custody following his arrest at his Glendale home.

“He apparently is in an in-patient, quasi-house arrest type

environment,” U.S. Attorney spokesman Thom Mrozek said.

A federal grand jury handed down a four-count indictment against

Schaffer on July 28 charging him with selling two handguns to a known

felon, possessing a handgun while selling cocaine, possession with

intent to deliver cocaine and owning 10 firearms at a time when he

was regularly using cocaine.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to

appear in U.S. District Court on Oct. 25.

Going to a drug treatment facility was a condition set by a judge

in the event that Schaffer posted bond. The facility is located in

Southern California, and while there Schaffer must wear an ankle

monitor, Szocs said.

“We initially suggested the Betty Ford Center but the court was

not inclined to do that,” Szocs said. “The judge had discussions with

pre-trial services and thought it was more conducive to have him

closer.”

Schaffer spent a weekend at the Betty Ford Center, located in

Rancho Mirage, in May, Szocs said.

Local police and federal investigators were led to Schaffer after

a search in June of a Granada Hills home of a Vineland Boyz member

turned up a gun registered to Schaffer that had not been reported

stolen.

Also arrested as part of the probe into the street gang’s illegal

activities was Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy. She pleaded

not guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor child endangerment charge and a

felony possession of cocaine charge.

In July, police found cocaine, three handguns -- registered to

Schaffer -- and 900 rounds of ammunition in Murphy’s Burbank home on

Lima Street, where she lives with her 12-year-old son.

Murphy has been released on her own recognizance.

If convicted, Murphy could face three years in state prison. She

would also be removed from the Burbank City Council, where she has

served for more than eight years.

* MARK MADLER covers Burbank City Hall and the courts. He may be

reached

at (818) 637-3242 or by e-mail at mark.madlerlatimes.com.