Portage mayor's corruption trial to start in October
Chicago Tribune
September 14, 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-snyder-pre-trial-hearing-st-0915-story.html
The federal corruption trial for Portage Mayor James Snyder and a tow operator in the city is ready to start on Oct. 9.
Magistrate Judge John Martin on Friday set the schedule for pre-trial filings as attorneys for Snyder and John Cortina, of Kustom Auto Body, and federal prosecutors ready to seat a jury and begin arguments on Oct. 9. Snyder’s case has been pending since November 2016, and been continued four times.
Martin asked the attorneysfor the government and Snyder and Cortina if they are ready for trial.
“Yes,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Koster.
Jackie Bennett Jr., one of Snyder’s attorneys, and Kevin Milner, Cortina’s attorney, agreed they are ready.
While Martin prepped the schedule for pre-trial filings, Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen is still weighing a motion to dismiss some of the charges or disqualify federal prosecutors handling the case.
Defense attorneys have argued that emails seized in 2015 were put through a faulty screening process, according to court documents, and the trial team accessed and used privileged communications. Snyder’s defense attorneys say the charges should be dismissed or the trial attorney disqualified if some email communications were accessed that shouldn’t have been.
Federal prosecutors say Snyder has not presented any evidence that shows his email communications were used in any improper way during the investigation, according to court documents, and that a judge should not disqualify the prosecutors on the case or dismiss any charges against the Portage mayor.
Koster asked if Martin had any sense of when that ruling may be issued.
“That obviously creates problems when preparing for trial,” Koster said.
“I do not,” Martin said. “I’m not dealing with those issues.”
Snyder and Cortina were charged 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 Portage Board of Works contract, and allegedly obstructing Internal Revenue Service laws.
Snyder and Cortina both pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court documents.
Martin asked when the prosecution and defense would have their trial exhibit lists ready.
Koster asked to submit that to the court on Oct. 5.
“There’s tons and tons of documents,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Benson.
Martin said any plea agreement must be reached five days before trial.
“That deadline won’t matter,” Benson said.
No comments:
Post a Comment