Manuel trial postponed
Dec. 1 bribery trial pushed back to Jan. 5
By RICHARD PRIOR
richard.prior@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 11/11/08
Suspended St. Johns County Commissioner Tom Manuel's trial on two counts of bribery has been postponed from Dec. 1 to Jan. 5 in the Jacksonville Division of the U.S. District Court.
U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard in Jacksonville granted Manuel's request.
Manuel's attorney, William Sheppard of Jacksonville, noted in his Nov. 5 motion that the filing of an indictment was "recent," and "the quantity of discovery to be reviewed and understood is significant."
"The consequences of this case are extremely significant," Sheppard added.
Manuel, 63, was indicted Oct. 16 on two counts of bribery.
The federal indictment charges him with soliciting and accepting bribes of $10,000 in April and $50,000 in June. If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
"In light of counsel's need for additional time to review the voluminous discovery and to prepare for trial, the Court finds that 'the ends of justice served by the granting of such continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial,'" Morales wrote in her Nov. 7 order.
Manuel, who had been the commission's chairman, sought the morning of Oct. 17 to take leave under the federal Family Medical Leave policy, citing health reasons.
Manuel had a heart transplant before he was elected in 2006 to a four-year term on the commission.
He also maintained his innocence and said he looked forward to clearing his name.
Gov. Charlie Crist suspended Manuel from office later that afternoon.
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