LAWYER STILL IS TARGETED IN CAMPAIGN LAUNDERING.Byline: James Nash Staff Writer A judge allowed charges to stand Thursday against a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. lawyer accused of laundering campaign contributions to Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California , but dismissed the cases against six co-defendants. Pierce O'Donnell, 57, is accused of reimbursing seven friends and business associates for $25,500 donated to Hahn's successful 2001 mayoral campaign. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ann Jones rejected O'Donnell's argument that the donations made to Hahn in 2000 and 2001 fell outside a two-year local statute of limitations A type of federal or state law that restricts the time within which legal proceedings may be brought. Statutes of limitations, which date back to early Roman Law, are a fundamental part of European and U.S. law. . Jones ruled that a four-year state statute of limitations should apply. O'Donnell has not entered a plea to the 26 misdemeanor misdemeanor, in law, a minor crime, in contrast to a felony. At common law a misdemeanor was a crime other than treason or a felony. Although it might be a grave offense, it did not affect the feudal bond or take away the offender's property. By the 19th cent. counts, which could result in a 13-year prison sentence if he is convicted. His lawyers have moved to dismiss the case on technical grounds. Jones ruled that the case against O'Donnell could continue but dismissed charges against six others, including his personal secretary and office administrator, who prosecutors say were reimbursed for their contributions to Hahn. Jones ruled that state campaign law applies only to the mastermind of a laundering scheme and not others acting at his behest be·hest n. 1. An authoritative command. 2. An urgent request: I called the office at the behest of my assistant. . In addition, the judge ruled that prosecutors improperly used testimony obtained under immunity agreements to prosecute To follow through; to commence and continue an action or judicial proceeding to its ultimate conclusion. To proceed against a defendant by charging that person with a crime and bringing him or her to trial. others. Hahn has denied knowing of any improper donations. In a statement, District Attorney Steve Cooley's office said prosecutors were considering whether to appeal Jones' decision to dismiss charges against six of the seven co-defendants. O'Donnell's personal trainer personal trainer person n → (persönlicher) Fitnesstrainer m, (persönliche) Fitnesstrainerin f David Bernstein still faces charges because he was not granted immunity, lawyers said. The District Attorney's Office called its case against O'Donnell ``well- founded in the law.'' ``The state has an overriding (programming) overriding - Redefining in a child class a method or function member defined in a parent class. Not to be confused with "overloading". public interest in protecting the integrity of electoral process from corruption at the municipal level,'' the District Attorney's Office said. ``We remain committed to enforcing all such laws to assure the integrity of local government.'' O'Donnell's lawyer, George O'Connell, said he plans to appeal Jones' ruling that the case should proceed because the statute of limitations did not apply. But O'Connell hailed the decision to throw out charges against the secretaries and others. ``It certainly demonstrates that this case was wrongly filed in the first place,'' O'Connell said. ``We feel there was an injustice when this case was brought generally and in particular against these people.'' James Nash, (213) 978-0390 james.nash(at)dailynews.com |
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