Ben Arredondo’s trial now set to start Sept. 5
Jun 12, 2012, 3:05 PM | Updated: 3:05 pm
PHOENIX – The start of an Arizona legislator’s trial on federal criminal
charges is being postponed so his lawyers can review material provided by
prosecutors.
Democratic Rep. Ben Arredondo of Tempe was to go on trial July 3, but Judge
Frederick Martone’s order Tuesday reschedules it for Sept. 5.
Defense lawyers said they need to study thousands of pages of documents and 50
hours of recordings from a three-year undercover FBI investigation.
Prosecutors say the material has little or no connection to Arredondo’s case
but that they are providing it out of what they called “an abundance of
caution.”
Arredondo has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of soliciting and
accepting sports and event tickets from FBI undercover agents and of disclosing
confidential information while a Tempe City Council member.
