09192014 - News Article - Soderquists cite health issue in seeking trial delay

Soderquists cite health issue in seeking trial delay
NWI Times
September 19, 2014 - 7:20 pm  
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station/soderquists-cite-health-issue-in-seeking-trial-delay/article_d6456679-7aa3-5f49-bbd2-589e713b0038.html
Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife and stepdaughter have asked the federal court to delay their trials until early next year.

Keith Soderquist, his wife, Deborah Soderquist, and stepdaughter Miranda Brakley, had been scheduled to go on trial Oct. 20.

Deborah Soderquist has developed a health issue that will make it impossible for her to participate in trial until no earlier than February, attorneys for the Soderquists and Brakley said in two motions filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Hammond.

The government did not object to granting the motion.

Soderquist and his wife are accused by the government of improperly using money from the city's food pantry and his re-election campaign at local casinos.

Both pleaded not guilty to a total 15 criminal charges spanning two criminal indictments.

The second indictment alleges the couple knew that Brakley pocketed at least $5,000 from the Lake Station City Court and helped prevent apprehension.

The April indictments came after the fall 2013 execution of search warrants at Lake Station City Hall.