Judge denies Manuel request

Judge denies Manuel request

Former chairman's trial will start on Jan. 5 as scheduled

By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 12/10/08


The federal bribery trial of former St. Johns County Commission Chairman Tom Manuel will be held as scheduled on Jan. 5, U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard ruled Tuesday.

Howard issued an order in response to a Dec. 5 motion by Manuel's attorney, William Sheppard of Jacksonville, who asked for a continuance of up to six months so the defense could sort out and understand the multiple electronic recordings and other complex evidence compiled by the FBI during the 14-month investigation.

The FBI had monitored Manuel's business dealings from April 2007 to October 2008, making 42 recordings of Manuel talking to two confidential informants. The FBI transcribed 14 of those conversations to paper.

Both confidential informants were named at a hearing Dec. 2; they are Bruce Robbins of Falcon Development Group and St. Augustine attorney George McClure.

Manuel is accused of taking a total of $60,000 from the informants, though prosecutors have been mum so far about what he was supposed to have done in return for the money.

Manuel has continued to maintain his innocence.

Contacted on the judge's motion Tuesday afternoon, Manuel said he wasn't aware that the latest order had been issued.

But he didn't want to comment "until I can talk to Sheppard," he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Savell did not return phone calls requesting comment, and Sheppard is reportedly ill with the flu and out of commission for a while.

Judge Howard, in a prefix to her order, wrote that she "does not find that the reasons set forth in (Sheppard's) motion seeking an extraordinarily lengthy continuance are sufficient" to delay the trial.

So the motion was denied without prejudice, the order said.

"Should the defendant desire to (postpone) the trial in this matter, he must file a properly submitted motion," the judge said.


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