The felony convictions of former Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas send new shockwaves to a city hall that had become relatively normal after months of unrest.

For 17 long months Ridley-Thomas was in a kind of limbo, suspended from the city council, but not permanently removed. But after five days of deliberation, jurors found Ridley-Thomas guilty of federal corruption charges on Thursday, a result that dictates his removal from the council, according to the city’s charter.

Ridley-Thomas’s permanent impeachment means the city’s 10th council district will again be without a voting representative, at least for now.

If Ridley-Thomas had been acquitted, he would have returned to his seat upon completion of the trial, replacing interim designee Heather Hutt. But Hutt was only appointed to fill a temporary vacancy, a status that no longer applies as the vacancy by Ridley-Thomas is no longer temporary.

The City Council is likely to re-elect Hutt as a voting member of the council for the remainder of Ridley-Thomas’ term, which runs through December 2024. The City Council could also choose to hold a special election and make the decision back in the hands of the voters. .

If someone is not appointed to serve as a voting member of the council, Council President Paul Krekorian can still appoint Hutt or someone else to serve as a non-voting caretaker of the seat, as Hutt did last summer shortly before her appointment to the council .

The 10th precinct seat had been subject to a rollercoaster of sorts for a year and a half since Ridley-Thomas’s suspension.

Prior to Hutt’s appointment, the board named fired former board chairman Herb Wesson to return as Ridley-Thomas’ interim replacement in early 2022. the district’s immediate future before Hutt was finally appointed.

Hutt launched her campaign earlier this month to represent the 10th district after the 2024 election, though it remains unclear whether she can run as an unelected incumbent.

Ridley-Thomas’ conviction, which stems from actions while serving on the county board of supervisors, not the city council, follows those of two other recent board members, Jose Huizar and Mitchell Englander.

Huizar pleaded guilty to racketeering and tax evasion charges in January, admitting to extorting at least $1.5 million in bribes from real estate developers.

Englander was convicted in 2020 in a sprawling City Hall corruption case, admitting his intent was to prevent federal investigators from learning about cash and other free gifts he received from a Southern California businessman.

Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.