Los Angeles Judge and two others indicted
From Sunshine Review
July 9, 2009 A Los Angeles county judge was indicted for allegedly trying to bribe his last year opponent to drop out of the judicial seat race.[1]
[edit] Campaign scheme
Superior Court Judge Harvey Silberman, 52, and two political consultants, Evelyn Jerome Alexander and Alan Randall Steinberg, have been indicted on charges of offering a bribe to Deputy District Attorney Serena Murillo. They were allegedly trying to drop out of the municipal election. The grand jury transcript detailing the alleged scheme has not been released.
The charges were solicitation of money or valuable consideration to induce a person not to become a candidate for public office and Silberman, Alexander and Steinberg each face up to three years in state prison if convicted.
Alexander and Steinberg are partners of SJA Strategies, a public affairs firm, and have pleaded not guilty.
Silberman, who on paid leave pending the outcome of the case, is awaiting arraignment, which has been postponed until a judge from another county is assigned to the case.[1]
[edit] Plead intentions
Dan Nixon, Silberman's lawyer, said his client was also charged with solicitation to commit a crime, specifically offering accepting or joining in the offer or acceptance of a bribe, to which charges the judge will plead not guilty.
"He maintains that he is innocent of these charges and has done nothing wrong," Nixon said.
Steinberg's attorney Steve Meister also insisted his client was innocent, but declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
"Randy's a person of outstanding character and high morals and in this case, truth and justice will be synonymous with his complete vindication," said Meister.
Alexander's attorney said he intends to raise the "credibility and reliability" of prosecution witnessess, including Murillo, when trial begins, the Associated Press reported.[1]
Silberman is a former court commissioner. In June 2008, he was elected a judge by about 5 percentage points over Murillo. He oversees family law cases and presided over the highly publicized child custody battle between Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, the Associated Press reported.[1]
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