Jury selected in Cantrell trial
NWI Times
May 27, 2008
nwitimes.com/news/local/jury-selected-in-cantrell-trial/article_d0dfa325-62f6-528d-80e7-31bfbe06fc6d.html
HAMMOND | Several teachers are among the jury of 12 who will decide the fate of Robert Cantrell, an East Chicago political figure and former educator and coach charged with fraud.
Cantrell will be judged by a jury of eight men and four women. Four alternates were seated during the selection process Tuesday in Hammond federal court.
Opening statements in the three-week trial are set to begin today for the East Chicago political operative charged with 11 counts of tax evasion, honest services deprivation and health insurance fraud for taking kickbacks from a contractor of North Township, where Cantrell formerly worked.
Cantrell was the subject of a federal investigation for several years before he was indicted last year. Some observers say he is one of the most influential political insiders in Lake County, while others say his clout has waned greatly in recent years.
Court officials have kept tight wraps on the case, filing numerous motions under seal concerning undisclosed issues that later have been discussed in closed-door meetings.
Defense attorney Kevin Milner has publicly complained about government secrecy after prosecutors said they did not intend to hand over copies of grand jury testimony from attorney John Cantrell, who is the defendant's son, until the day he testifies.
But a motion filed by Milner in full public view last week hints at a broad range of evidence that could be introduced at trial, including information regarding:
* possible violence associated with Gilbert Gutierrez, a politically connected East Chicago court official who has been called a person of interest in the investigation into the 1992 killing of Guadalupe Castaneda.
* Robert Cantrell's alleged use or involvement with absentee ballots in East Chicago.
* letters submitted by Anthony DeBonis, who had political ties to the administration of former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick.
* any hirings or firings by Lake Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell, Robert Cantrell's daughter, who was elected in 1996.
* a grant of immunity from prosecution to John Cantrell.
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