AMY PHAN WEST, Westminster Councilmember.

Amy Phan West, a controversial member of the Westminster City Council, is in more legal trouble.

West, elected to the council in 2022, is being sued by the city for disrupting council meetings, and now is facing a misdemeanor bribery charge in connection with an illegally-parked Jeep.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s office, West will be arraigned on Feb. 24 at the Stephen K. Tamura Justice Center in Westminster.

The OCDA’s office alleges that her car rental business located in the area of Dorothy Street and Melanie Lane was reported to have “dirty, unregistered, or abandoned vehicles” there.

In April 2023, the city sent two parking control officers to the site in reference to an abandoned Jeep –registered to Amy Phan West’s husband  – parked on a city street.

They requested a tow truck to remove the Jeep when she allegedly identified herself, told the parking officers not to tow the Jeep – she would “move it herself,” she said .

She then allegedly spoke of her friendship with the Westminster police chief and that she was in the process of “getting raises for police department personnel.”

The tow truck was cancelled and the Jeep left at the site.

Phan West denies the accusations, according to published reports.

“The law applies equally to everyone, including elected officials. Holding elective office does not entitle anyone to a separate set of rules and any attempt to engage in corruption, bribery, or any other crime under the shroud of elective office will be thoroughly investigated and any and all crimes that have been committed will be prosecuted by my office to the fullest extent of the law,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.