A defense motion to dismiss charges against six former Bell city leaders was rejected by a judge Thursday during a court hearing.
Ex-city council members Teresa Jacobo, George Mirabal, Luis Artiga, George Cole and Victor Bello and two other city officials were charged last September with fraud and the misappropriation of roughly $5.5 million in public funds.
Through a motion, their attorneys sought to dismiss the charges based on a 2005 ballot measure that the defense said charter cities from state laws restricting council member salaries.
However, the court stated during its August decision that prosecutors in public corruption cases must prove defendants knew they were breaking the law, or were criminally negligent in not knowing.
Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy wrote in her ruling there was “ample probable cause” to believe the former Bell officials knew they were aware they broke the law.
Defense attorneys said they may appeal Kennedy’s ruling.
The six former council members are scheduled to stand trial with ex-City Administrator Robert Rizzo and his former assistant Angela Spaccia February 2.
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Rizzo is charged has the most felony counts of those involved in the fraud scandal. Of the 53 counts against him, six are for falsification of public records by an official custodian and three are for conflict of interest.
The criminal complaint against Spaccia claims she took more than $1.3 million in public funds.
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