A former San Mateo County Community College District employee appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to embezzlement, according to prosecutors.

Bradley Witham, the former head of information technology for the San Mateo County Community College District, was arrested Oct. 25 after he returned from a trip to Australia, prosecutors said.

He appeared in San Mateo County Superior Court on Friday (Oct. 26) and pleaded not guilty to an embezzling charge. He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m. to set a preliminary hearing date.

Mr. Witham's bail was set at $1 million and he remains in custody, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

His alleged conspirator, Mark Anthony Bustos, appeared in court previously and is scheduled to return on Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. to set a preliminary hearing date, prosecutors said. He has been released on bail.

Mr. Witham and Mr. Bustos allegedly embezzled more than $100,000 from the district, officials said.

— Bay City News Service

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