Mayor Jose Rodriguez
By Eliot Kleinberg
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
WEST PALM BEACH —
A judge Thursday refused to delay the corruption trial of suspended Boynton Beach Mayor José Rodriguez, set to start in two weeks.
Rodriguez’ lawyers had filed Tuesday with the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach, arguing a circuit judge doesn’t have the right to rule on a county ordinance.
They want the appeals court to order Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Charles E. Burton to dismiss what was the first charge ever filed against someone under Palm Beach County’s year-old ethics ordinance.
Rodriguez, 50, was suspended from office Jan. 27, one day after his arrest on charges he pressured the city’s police chief and interim manager to stop an investigation into allegations he abused his then-11-year-old stepdaughter. Investigators declared the allegations unfounded, but Rodriguez was charged with misusing his power as mayor.
On Oct. 2, Burton had thrown out one of four corruption counts. It alleged Rodriguez resisted, obstructed or opposed a law-enforcement officer.
But Burton had refused to dismiss the other three counts, including the one that accuses Rodriguez of breaking the county ethics ordinance’s ban on “corrupt misuse of official position.” Rodriguez’s lawyers have challenged the ethics ordinance as unconstitutionally vague.
In motions to the appeals court, lawyers for Rodriguez argued the county ordinance punishes the same conduct as the state statute, which they said is a civil infraction and not a crime. They had asked the appeals court to “stay all proceedings in the trial court” while it considers the motion and also had asked Burton to delay the case.
Rodriguez’ trial was originally set for July, then delayed to this month. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Oct. 25.
On Thursday, Rodriguez lawyer Jason Weiss — Rodriguez did not attend the hearing — told Burton he worried the appeal court would rule during proceedings; “I don’t want to stop on the second day of the trial if there’s an order,” he said.
Assistant State Attorney Daniel Funk, the prosecutor in the case, said, “We’re ready to go to trial.”
Burton asked if the two would consider separating the one count and proceeding with the rest. Weiss said yes; Funk said no.
Burton then denied the motion to delay the trial, saying, “If the Fourth tells me I can’t hear it, I won’t hear it. But until they rule … ”
Rodriguez also was arrested July 16 in a separate case in which prosecutors charged he defrauded a bank when he did a “short sale” of a Palm Beach condominium but actually sold it to a relative and, in effect, back to himself.
Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Rodriguez’s estranged wife, Sarah Marquez, filed divorce papers Wednesday in Phoenix. It’s her third divorce filing since the two were married in February 2010 in Palm Beach County.
She first filed for divorce in August 2010, and that case was closed in July 2011. She then filed again Oct. 11, 2011, but withdrew that filing Jan. 12, about two weeks before Rodriguez’ first arrest. Rodriguez asked a judge to let the divorce proceed, but the judge declined.
It was Marquez’ Aug. 4, 2011, interview with Boynton Beach police that ultimately led to Rodriguez’ arrest on the corruption charges.
“The actions of the BBPD (Boynton Beach Police Department) have devastated our family and our marriage,” Rodriguez said Thursday evening in an email. “This is something that we have been discussing for some time and so now we are moving forward to begin the healing process.”
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/judge-refuses-to-delay-corruption-trial-of-suspend/nSZrC/
Showing posts with label Vanessa Kachadurian bicycling in Armenia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vanessa Kachadurian bicycling in Armenia. Show all posts
Monday, April 15, 2013
Vanessa Kachadurian, more on corruption of public officials Mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida
Mayor Jose Rodriguez
By Eliot Kleinberg
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
WEST PALM BEACH —
A judge Thursday refused to delay the corruption trial of suspended Boynton Beach Mayor José Rodriguez, set to start in two weeks.
Rodriguez’ lawyers had filed Tuesday with the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach, arguing a circuit judge doesn’t have the right to rule on a county ordinance.
They want the appeals court to order Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Charles E. Burton to dismiss what was the first charge ever filed against someone under Palm Beach County’s year-old ethics ordinance.
Rodriguez, 50, was suspended from office Jan. 27, one day after his arrest on charges he pressured the city’s police chief and interim manager to stop an investigation into allegations he abused his then-11-year-old stepdaughter. Investigators declared the allegations unfounded, but Rodriguez was charged with misusing his power as mayor.
On Oct. 2, Burton had thrown out one of four corruption counts. It alleged Rodriguez resisted, obstructed or opposed a law-enforcement officer.
But Burton had refused to dismiss the other three counts, including the one that accuses Rodriguez of breaking the county ethics ordinance’s ban on “corrupt misuse of official position.” Rodriguez’s lawyers have challenged the ethics ordinance as unconstitutionally vague.
In motions to the appeals court, lawyers for Rodriguez argued the county ordinance punishes the same conduct as the state statute, which they said is a civil infraction and not a crime. They had asked the appeals court to “stay all proceedings in the trial court” while it considers the motion and also had asked Burton to delay the case.
Rodriguez’ trial was originally set for July, then delayed to this month. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Oct. 25.
On Thursday, Rodriguez lawyer Jason Weiss — Rodriguez did not attend the hearing — told Burton he worried the appeal court would rule during proceedings; “I don’t want to stop on the second day of the trial if there’s an order,” he said.
Assistant State Attorney Daniel Funk, the prosecutor in the case, said, “We’re ready to go to trial.”
Burton asked if the two would consider separating the one count and proceeding with the rest. Weiss said yes; Funk said no.
Burton then denied the motion to delay the trial, saying, “If the Fourth tells me I can’t hear it, I won’t hear it. But until they rule … ”
Rodriguez also was arrested July 16 in a separate case in which prosecutors charged he defrauded a bank when he did a “short sale” of a Palm Beach condominium but actually sold it to a relative and, in effect, back to himself.
Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Rodriguez’s estranged wife, Sarah Marquez, filed divorce papers Wednesday in Phoenix. It’s her third divorce filing since the two were married in February 2010 in Palm Beach County.
She first filed for divorce in August 2010, and that case was closed in July 2011. She then filed again Oct. 11, 2011, but withdrew that filing Jan. 12, about two weeks before Rodriguez’ first arrest. Rodriguez asked a judge to let the divorce proceed, but the judge declined.
It was Marquez’ Aug. 4, 2011, interview with Boynton Beach police that ultimately led to Rodriguez’ arrest on the corruption charges.
“The actions of the BBPD (Boynton Beach Police Department) have devastated our family and our marriage,” Rodriguez said Thursday evening in an email. “This is something that we have been discussing for some time and so now we are moving forward to begin the healing process.”
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/judge-refuses-to-delay-corruption-trial-of-suspend/nSZrC/
Vanessa Kachadurian on another attorney gets his hands caught in the cookie jar
This time it was his mother's estate.
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/lawyer-gets-probation-weekend-jail-in-theft/article_8e932088-1aa0-505f-bcd5-6a65b30f686d.html
March 27, 2012 12:00 am • Kim Smith Arizona Daily Star
A Tucson lawyer was placed on four years' probation and ordered to spend 52 consecutive weekends in jail Monday for stealing from his mother's estate.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Michael Miller also ordered Joseph Homer Riley Jr., 60, to do 100 hours of community service and to pay $114,750 in restitution.
Riley was indicted in December 2010 on four counts of theft and one count each of fraud and money laundering.
According to court documents, one of Riley's 12 siblings went to the Arizona Attorney General's Office because he suspected Riley was stealing from their late mother's estate and three businesses in which the estate had a major investment.
Detectives with the Arizona Department of Public Safety determined Riley had stolen nearly $170,000; a forensic accountant hired by Riley's brother, Rory, determined there was more than $937,000 missing, court documents state.
On Jan. 26, Riley pleaded guilty to one count of theft, admitting he stole between $3,000 and $4,000 from the estate in 2004.
Riley told a probation officer he borrowed the money intending to pay it back, but acknowledged his actions could be misinterpreted.
Riley has already paid the $114,750 Miller ordered him to pay. He's also paid $157,000 under the terms of a civil lawsuit filed by some of his siblings and cousins.
Court documents indicate the majority of Riley's siblings thought the plea agreement was too lenient and wanted Riley imprisoned. Three siblings support Riley.
Riley is no longer able to practice law.
On StarNet: Read Kim Smith's blog, At the Courthouse, for news out of Pima County's courts at azstarnet.com/courthouse
Monday, July 30, 2012
Vanessa Kachadurian Armenian Art and Artists: Vanessa Kachadurian Congratulations Peter Musurlia...
Vanessa Kachadurian Armenian Art and Artists: Vanessa Kachadurian Congratulations Peter Musurlia...: Congratulations Peter Jan!!! Peter Musurlian Nominated for Two Los Angeles-Area News Emmys Awards Ceremony Scheduled for August 11,...
From friend Vanessa Kachadurian
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