SAN DIEGO -- A federal jury yesterday convicted San Diego's new acting mayor and a city councilman of taking payoffs from a strip club owner to help repeal a "no-touching" law at nude clubs, the latest blow to a city awash in scandal.

Michael Zucchet, who became interim mayor over the weekend, was found guilty of conspiracy, extortion and fraud on his first business day in office. He was immediately suspended from the position, his attorney said.

Councilman Ralph Inzunza, who was convicted of the same charges, also was suspended.

The jury also returned guilty verdicts against former Clark County, Nev., Commissioner Lance Malone, who worked for strip club owner Michael Galardi to repeal San Diego's ban preventing nude dancers and patrons from touching each other. The repeal effort failed.

It is unclear who will succeed Zucchet, whose conviction leaves the city rudderless at one of the most troubled points in its history.

Mayor Dick Murphy resigned and left office Friday, eight months into a second term cut short by mounting problems at City Hall.

At a subdued meeting yesterday afternoon, the six remaining City Council members put Councilwoman Toni Atkins temporarily in charge of the body.

The chairs where Murphy, Inzunza and Zucchet once sat were empty.

Next week, the council will elect a mayor pro tem. Murphy's permanent replacement will be chosen in an election July 26 or a possible November runoff of the top two finishers.

The verdicts were reached on the fourth day of deliberations. Zucchet sat staring straight ahead, occasionally glancing up at the ceiling, as the verdicts were read.

Each defendant could face three to four years in prison. Outside court, their attorneys vowed to appeal and maintained that the men had done nothing wrong.

Inzunza contended that his actions were part of the normal political process. "I will be back," he said.

Zucchet left without talking to reporters. His attorney, Jerry Coughlan, said his client had no immediate plans to resign, pending an appeal, and maintained that Zucchet, too, was only doing his job. "There isn't a single public official in this country that hasn't done the same thing," Coughlan said.

Zucchet and Inzunza, both 35, were accused of taking $34,500 in cash bribes and campaign contributions from Galardi. Malone allegedly delivered the wads of cash.