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Ex-San Diego mayor pleads guilty to charges from sex harassment claims

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Ex-San Diego Mayor Bob Filner pleaded guilty Tuesday to three criminal counts arising from sexual harassment allegations that forced him from office in August.

Court documents indicate he will be sentenced to three years of probation and will serve no jail time, U-T San Diego reported.

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In front of Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Trentacosta, Filner pleaded guilty to to one criminal count of false imprisonment by violence, fraud, menace and deceit and two misdemeanor counts of battery.

Sentencing will be Dec. 9.

A criminal grand jury was convened to investigate evidence of possible criminal charges against Filner, 71, who resigned from office Aug. 30. At least two lawyers told U-T San Diego they had clients who were called to testify later this week before the panel.

The charges to which Filner pleaded guilty Tuesday involve three unnamed female victims in separate incidents, the newspaper said.

The felony charge arose from a March 6 incident in which the mayor used force to overcome the resistance of a woman at a fundraiser, violating her liberty.

One battery charge was from April 6, when he kissed a woman on the lips at a "Meet the Mayor" event.

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The second battery charge resulted from a Fiesta Island rally and clean-up May 25 when he touched a woman's buttocks as she posed with him for a photo.

Filner also faces a lawsuit by his former communications director and a city claim from a parks worker.

A special election to replace Filner will be held Nov. 19.

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