The Region : Councilman in Plea Deal

Compton City Councilman Floyd A. James pleaded no contest to an election fraud charge that accused him of mailing a deceptive political notice to voters in his bitter 1985 campaign. In a plea bargain with state prosecutors, James agreed to let Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz decide at sentencing on Feb. 27 whether the violation qualifies as a felony, which would strip the councilman of public office, or a misdemeanor that could send him to jail for up to a year. James’ co-defendant, Inglewood political consultant Roderick Wright, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor on the same charge. He was fined $2,500 and placed on probation.