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Menifee councilman accused of using his position for financial gain

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Riverside prosecutors said a Menifee councilman was arrested and charged Thursday on suspicion of having a conflict of interest, using his position for financial gain and not having a license for an event venue he owns.

Thomas Fuhrman was arrested at a city park and booked at the Southwest Detention Center in French Valley on $5,000 bail, according to authorities.

Shortly after his arrest he was charged with one felony and seven misdemeanors, said John Hall, a spokesman with the Riverside County district attorney’s office.

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Fuhrman was charged with one felony count of conflict of interest, four counts of using his position to influence a government decision in which he knew he had a financial gain, and three counts of not having a business license.

All of the charges are connected to a Menifee property Fuhrman owns, the Wooden Nickel Ranch, Hall said.

Hall said the complaint against Fuhrman was unavailable.

The conflict of interest charge stems from him taking part in a discussion and vote to continue using an outside law firm contracted with the city to handle code enforcement, Hall said.

It’s alleged that Fuhrman had discussions with that firm due to code enforcement issues on his Menifee property and voted against the city continuing to contract with them.

Some of the counts related to Fuhrman using his position for financial gain have to do with an ordinance placing a moratorium on the approval of a recreational vehicle storage facilities.

Another was connected to an ordinance that established manure management and disposal standards.

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Prosecutors say Fuhrman does not have a business license for the Wooden Nickel Ranch.

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