July 27, 2006

Judge sets May 14, 2007 date for Gonzales’ trial

Mayor Ron Gonzales, his budget and policy aide Joe Guerra and Norcal Waste Systems all pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, conspiracy and fraud at their “further arraignment” held Wednesday, July 26. Judge James Emerson set a trial date of May 14, 2007.

The three also continued to pursue a “demur,” which challenges the validity of the charges. In addition, Gonzales asked for a waiver of personal appearance.

On Monday, July 24, the judge issued two other orders: One was to keep the contents of the grand jury investigation sealed until an Aug. 10 hearing, and the second, a gag order, so that details are not released to the public.

After the arraignment, Gonzales’ attorney Allen Ruby declined to answer questions because of the gag order. The time frame for the trial is fair, he told reporters, adding that he couldn’t say anything else. The nine-and-a-half months between the arraignment on July 26 and the start of the trial will give defense attorneys sufficient time to go over the more than 100,000 pages of the grand jury’s proceedings.

Gonzales and Guerra surrendered to police on June 22. In a press conference on June 23, Santa Clara County
District Attorney Julius Finkelstein announced the charges to reporters at a press conference. The arraignment was scheduled for the following Monday when attorneys for Gonzales, Guerra and representatives of Norcal demurred and waived their pleas until July 26.

–By Carol Rosen