Woman’s Charges Dropped Over Sex Allegation

Forgery and stolen-property charges were dropped Friday against an 18-year-old Van Nuys woman who said she was promised a lighter sentence if she agreed to have sex with a deputy city attorney.

Van Nuys Municipal Judge Alan Ellis dismissed the two counts against Laura Kazemi, saying it served justice to do so.

Kazemi told authorities in August that George Schwartz, a veteran city prosecutor, had offered to recommend leniency for her if she would plead guilty and have sex with him.

Schwartz, 42, was arrested Aug. 25 at the Van Nuys Courthouse after he allegedly repeated the sexual overtures to Kazemi during a meeting at a San Fernando Valley shopping center.

Authorities had outfitted Kazemi with a concealed tape recorder for the meeting.

Kazemi’s attorney, Ralph S. Greer, had asked that the case against his client be dismissed, arguing that Schwartz’s actions constituted interference with the attorney-client relationship.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond argued against dismissal of the charges, contending that Schwartz was not acting in an official capacity when he allegedly solicited sex with Kazemi and that his actions did not affect Kazemi’s attorney-client relationship.

Schwartz, a West Hills resident, is on paid leave from his $65,918-a-year job pending a disciplinary hearing.

He is free on $3,000 bail and faces trial Nov. 28 in Los Angeles Municipal Court on one count of soliciting a bribe.