05152018 - News Article - Portage Mayor James Snyder's trial reset for Oct. 9

Portage Mayor James Snyder's trial reset for Oct. 9
NWI Times
May 15, 2018
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/portage-mayor-james-snyder-s-trial-reset-for-oct/article_e4a0e327-d5e4-54b5-9e19-bc4a044c37d5.html

HAMMOND — Indicted Portage Mayor James Snyder's public corruption trial has been reset for Oct. 9.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge John E. Martin issued an order Tuesday morning setting the final pre-trial conference for Sept. 14, at 9:45 a.m. before himself and the trial for Oct. 9, at 11:30 a.m. before District Court Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen.

Snyder, who was indicted in November 2016 on two counts of bribery and one count of tax evasion, had filed a motion last week asking the trial be continued until October. Van Bokkelen vacated the June 4 trial date last week.

The trial has been delayed this time because of a continuing court battle between Snyder's defense team and federal prosecutors over emails. Snyder contends that federal prosecutors and investigators reviewed privileged emails that violate his Sixth Amendment rights to a fair trial.

Van Bokkelen held a six-hour closed door hearing last week to take testimony and evidence on the status of the emails. That hearing is to continue at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 24.

Snyder's attorney, Jackie M. Bennett Jr., of Indianapolis, also contended the defense received a substantial number of documents through discovery on April 24 and would be unable to review them in time for the June 4 trial date.