Long Beach Councilman Michael Fagen's trial likely in September

The trial of indicted Long Beach City Councilman Michael Fagen likely will begin in September, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Fagen’s trial date could be set as soon as July 3, when he is scheduled for a pretrial conference at District Court in Hempstead, said his attorney, Marc Gann of Mineola.
Gann said he and prosecutors yesterday discussed the possibility of starting the trial in September.

Fagen was indicted in February on felony charges that he illegally collected more than $14,000 in unemployment benefits.

The Democrat was indicted on charges of third-degree grand larceny, petty larceny and 38 counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. Investigators found he hid his government job from the state to collect the unemployment benefits, prosecutors have said.

The councilman has said he is innocent.

Above: Long Beach Councilman Michael Fagen