Gonzales pleads not guilty in Norcal case

By Jason Bennert, Bay City News Service

July 26, 2006

SAN JOSE (BCN) - San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales pleaded not guilty today to six felony charges in connection with a scandal over a city garbage contract.

Gonzales and aide Joe Guerra, along with Norcal Waste Systems, entered the not guilty pleas today in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

Their trial date was set for May 14.

"The court, with the agreement of counsel, will set the trial date at May 14, 2007,'' Superior Court Judge James Emerson said.

That will be some 11 months after Gonzales, Guerra and Norcal were indicted. When asked about the length of time until the trial, prosecutor Julius Finkelstein said the amount of material the defense attorneys must review played a large part in the setting of the trial date.

"It's a very realistic trial date given the large amount of discovery ... we're talking in excess of 100,000 pages,'' Finkelstein said.

Neither Finkelstein nor defense attorneys would comment further on the specifics of the case, citing Emerson's gag order.

The next scheduled court date in the case is Aug. 10, at which time Emerson will hear arguments about sealing the grand jury transcript.

Gonzales' term as mayor will expire on Dec. 31.

Gonzales has maintained he broke no laws when negotiating a contract in October 2000 for garbage pickup and recycling services with Norcal. He could face up to eight years in prison if convicted of the conspiracy, bribery and falsification of documents charges against him.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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