Adam Friedman, the son of Beverly Hills City Councilmember Lester Friedman, was granted a six-month diversion program that could result in the dismissal of a case in which he is charged with creating a fake social media account impersonating City Councilmember Sharona Nazarian, while she was a candidate.

Over the prosecution’s objection, Superior Court Judge Wendy Segall ordered Friedman to perform 50 hours of community service with a non-profit organization as a result of the diversion program. The judge said she was “not going to order Mr. Friedman to declare a public apology,” but noted that an apology would be welcome and indicated that she would then be willing to reconsider the required community service hours.

Friedman was charged in July of 2022 with one felony count of identity theft that was later reduced to a misdemeanor count, along with one misdemeanor count of internet/electronic impersonation. The younger Friedman was accused of setting up a fake online account for Nazarian while his father was running for reelection, according to a statement released by the District Attorney’s Office soon after the case was filed.

The next hearing in the case is set for April 27.

City News Service