BRIEFLY : ADAIR TRIAL DELAYED FOR A FEW DAYS ONLY.

SAN FERNANDO - A judge granted a prosecution motion to delay the trial of a Sylmar woman charged with killing her husband with a baseball bat - but only until Wednesday.

A state appeals court this week ordered Superior Court Judge L. Jeffrey Wiatt to stop Jeanie Adair's trial, after prosecutors complained that defense attorney Richard Plotin failed to turn over evidence. Also, a key witness is ill.

Wiatt waved off the objections and started jury selection May 10. The 2nd District Court of Appeal halted the proceedings. Tuesday, the appellate court sided with prosecutors, telling Wiatt to explore the evidence issue and give more time to prepare.

After a two-day hearing, Wiatt said the wait for the detective is too long and told prosecutors to be ready to go Wednesday without him. But he said he would consider another postponement request.

- City News Service

Foursome indicted in investment scam

Four Southern California men were indicted on charges they ran a $12 million Ponzi scheme that they hired investment talk show host Sonny Bloch to promote, a prosecutor said Friday.

The men took money from investors and used it for themselves, gambling much of it away in Las Vegas, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Dyer alleged.

Steven Regen of Tarzana, Dan Kelley of Canoga Park, Ron Michel of Pacific Palisades and William Richard Horne of Los Angeles are named in the indictment, returned Thursday.

- City News Service

Audit says planning could've cut costs

An El Nino debris-clearing project in Little Tujunga Wash that cost the city $540,000 could have been avoided with simple planning, according to an audit released Friday.

In November 1997, a rain-swollen river washed tons of debris through the normally dry wash, threatening to flood at least 40 homes in Lake View Terrace.

More than $540,000 was ultimately spent to clear the debris. But, City Controller Rick Tuttle writes in the audit, ``if the Department of Public Works had inspected the Wash earlier in the year, the city would have incurred minimal cost,'' adding that a gravel contractor was willing to clear the wash for free.

Tuttle recommended the city inspect annually and settle the question of which government agency is responsible for maintaining area washes.

- City News Service

Man sent to prison for welfare fraud

The administrator of a North Hollywood medical clinic was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for bilking the state out of more than $66,000 in welfare benefits.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William F. Fahey also ordered Yenok Ordoyen, 47, and his wife, Armenui, 41, to make restitution of $66,207 and fined each $10,000.

Last month, the Ordoyens pleaded guilty to felony welfare fraud for obtaining welfare, food stamps and Medi-Cal benefits they didn't qualify for.

- City News Service

Bill would let state take over property

The Assembly passed a bill Friday that would allow the state to take about 160 acres in Malibu that belonged to Frank Capra in lieu of about $1.2 million in estate taxes and interest.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

AB 404 by Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl, D-Encino, would direct the state to accept a deed for the property.

The property would help complete the Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains. The state parks system would maintain it.

- City News Service