Oklahoma City councilman to plead not guilty to embezzlement

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The attorney for an Oklahoma City councilman accused of taking at least $165,000 from charities under his control says he will plead not guilty to felony charges.

Prosecutors in Oklahoma County filed the charges Friday against 35-year-old Councilman John A. Pettis Jr. Pettis is charged with three counts of embezzlement and one count of intentionally failing to file state income tax returns.

Defense attorney Mark Henricksen said Monday that Pettis is expected to appear in court later this week and will plead not guilty to the charges. Henricksen declined further comment in the case.

Among other things, Pettis is accused of taking funds from the Oklahoma Institute for Minority Affairs, a charity Pettis founded. Pettis is accused of making cash withdrawals from the charity of $19,155 over almost four years.