HAHN INSIDER DOWIE PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN SCANDAL.

Byline: Beth Barrett Staff Writer

Doug Dowie, the former head of Fleishman-Hillard's Los Angeles public-relations office who became an insider in Mayor James Hahn's administration, pleaded not guilty Monday to 16 federal felony counts of conspiracy and fraud in allegedly overcharging the Department of Water and Power at least $300,000.

Dowie, 57, of West Hills entered the plea before a magistrate in the morning and later before U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Feess.

The 14-page indictment - in which Dowie is accused of one count of conspiracy and 15 counts of wire fraud for allegedly bilking the DWP and other clients - supersedes an earlier one against Dowie lieutenant John Stodder, 49, of Palos Verdes Estates.

Stodder, who also was fired by the public-relations firm, earlier pleaded not guilty to 11 felony wire-fraud counts. The new indictment includes those counts, as well as one of conspiracy.

Trial was set for Aug. 2 for Dowie, a former journalist who worked as an editor at the Daily News before joining the P.R. firm in 1991. The same date previously was set for Stodder's trial.

``We look forward to trial,'' said Dowie's lead lawyer, Tom Holliday of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

Beth Barrett, [phone]

beth.barrett(at)dailynews.com