The appeal by former retirement trustees to overturn a judge’s decision that they stand trial was tentatively denied by Superior Court Judge Roger Krauel today.
Krauel was asked by the six defendants to review the record of their pre-trial hearing in December and January in hopes of reversing Judge Frederic Link’s order that they undergo a jury trial on corruption charges. Link’s task last winter was to determine whether the allegations amounted to a crime and if there was probable cause to believe that the trustees committed the wrongdoing.
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis filed criminal conflict-of-interest charges against firefighter union president Ron Saathoff, fingerprint examiner John Torres, former Treasurer Mary Vattimo, former Assistant Auditor Terri Webster, management analyst Sharon Wilkinson and former Human Resources Director Cathy Lexin.
If Krauel maintains his tentative ruling, the six defendants will face trial. However, attorneys in the case are expecting the November start date to be postponed because of one of the defense lawyers’ recent death.
Oral arguments on the matter will be heard in front of Krauel on Tuesday at 9 a.m. You can read the tentative ruling here.