01042018 - News Article - Portage mayor's towing bribery trial pushed for third time

Portage mayor's towing bribery trial pushed for third time
Post-Tribune
January 04, 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-snyder-trial-continuance-st-0105-20180104-story.html

A federal judge Thursday agreed to push back the trial date for Portage Mayor James Snyder and a Portage tow operator to June.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and defense attorneys for Snyder and John Cortina, of Kustom Auto Body in Portage, petitioned the judge to move the trial back to June, citing that the Portage mayor recently hired a new attorney after Thomas Kirsch II became the new U.S. attorney in October.

The trial for Snyder and Cortina has been continued three times, according to court documents.

Snyder and Cortina were charged in November 2016 with allegedly violating a federal bribery statue. Federal prosecutors said the mayor allegedly solicited money from Cortina and "Individual A" and gave them a towing contract for Portage.

Snyder received an additional bribery indictment for alleged accepting $13,000 in connection with a Board of Works Contract, and allegedly obstructing internal revenue laws.

Snyder and Cortina both pleaded not guilty to the charges last year, according to court documents.

Snyder hired Jackie Bennett Jr., of Taft Stettinius and Hollister in Indianapolis, to replace Kirsch as his attorney. Bennett, in the motion for continuance, said he needed additional time to prepare for trial.

"The government has informed undersigned counsel that it does not object to the requested continuance as to defendant James Snyder due to his recent change of counsel," the motion said. "The government also advises that it will file a separate response setting forth its position as to any continuance request by defendant John Cortina."

Cortina's attorney, Kevin Milner, agreed with the continuance request and said in court documents that the co-defendants are working closely on a joint defense.

"It is necessary to avoid undue prejudice to Cortina that his case be continued along with that of Snyder so that the same defense may be utilized," Milner said in the motion.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Benson did not oppose the continuance, according to court documents.