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Court sets trial date for Stanley
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Posted on Dec 16 2004
The Superior Court has scheduled the jury trial of former congressman Stanley Torres, in connection with criminal charges that accuses him of involvement in the alleged hiring of a ghost employee.
Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama set the trial to begin on July 5, 2005. The judge also set the pre-trial conference on June 15, 2005, where exchange of witness lists by opposing parties, among others, could be made.
“In the event an attorney fails to appear at this conference, the court shall impose penalties, as appropriate,” Lizama said.
Torres and co-defendant Dorothy Sablan, who used to be the lawmaker’s office manager, are facing multiple charges of conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, and illegal use of public supplies, services, time and personnel.
Torres also faces multiple counts of misconduct in public office, while prosecutors have also charged Sablan with multiple counts of theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
The Attorney General’s Office filed the charges against Torres and Sablan sometime last March.
The court, meanwhile, earlier dismissed the charges against co-defendant Frank Ada, who used to be a legislative staff, without prejudice to the re-filing of the charges.
Deputy attorney general Clyde Lemons Jr. had accused Torres and Sablan of engaging in a fraudulent scheme, wherein the latter received government monies through payroll when she did not actually perform work.
Sablan allegedly received at least five checks totaling $5,384.67 in government payroll in 2003, when she was actually off-island. Ada allegedly prepared fraudulent time and attendance sheets indicating that Sablan rendered work when she was off-island.
The judge ordered the parties to exchange witness lists no later that seven days before trial.
“Except for good cause shown, the parties will be precluded from offering substantive evidence through any person not so listed. The listing of a witness does not commit the listing party to have such person available at trial or to offer the testimony of such person,” the judge said.
Lizama also ordered the lawyers to minimize other business or personal commitments during the trial, so it could be expeditiously concluded.
