Portsmouth councilman indicted on 20 felony charges

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) - A Portsmouth city council member has been indicted on 20 felony charges including identity fraud and forgery.

Local media report a special grand jury returned the indictments Thursday against councilman Mark Whitaker. The panel had been hearing evidence about Whitaker’s church, its development company and its defunct credit union.

Whitaker turned himself in to authorities and was released on bond Thursday evening. He did not speak with reporters at the magistrate’s office and didn’t respond to requests for comment. He has previously said the special grand jury investigation was politically motivated.

He faces 11 charges of forgery, seven of passing a forged check and two of identity fraud.