Former Los Angeles County elected official Mark Ridley-Thomas has requested to remain free while appealing his conviction on federal corruption charges. Ridley-Thomas was sentenced in August to three years and six months in federal prison after being found guilty of seven felony counts, including bribery, conspiracy, and honest services fraud. His defense attorneys argue that he should be allowed to remain out of prison during the appeals process, citing his strong ties to the community and a track record of abiding by the law.
The defense motion highlights the substantial questions of law or fact raised by Ridley-Thomas’ appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The convictions involve statutes that have been challenged for their constitutionality, adding to the debatable nature of the issues at hand. Defense attorneys note that cases involving honest services fraud or public corruption often raise significant legal questions.
Ridley-Thomas is requesting a hearing on October 30th before U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer to debate the motion. If his request to remain out of prison is denied, the defense plans to file a motion with the circuit court. According to the motion, Ridley-Thomas should be released pending appeal if the court finds that he is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the community, and if the appeal raises substantial questions of law or fact likely to result in reversal or a new trial.
The defense also raises a “Batson challenge,” asserting intentional racial discrimination during jury selection in Ridley-Thomas’ trial. They point out the government’s apparent desire to remove black jurors and highlight disparate questioning and pretextual reasons for striking black female jurors. The defense claims that these issues are likely to result in reversal or a new trial. During the trial, the judge even expressed concern about the prosecutor’s conduct.
While Black females were struck from the jury, two Black males were included. The defense expects the appeal process to take several months before filing the brief to the 9th Circuit. Ridley-Thomas was convicted for his involvement in a scheme where he received benefits from USC while serving on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He was acquitted of other charges related to his son’s scholarships and professorship at the university.
In addition to incarceration, Ridley-Thomas was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay fines. During his sentencing hearing, he maintained his innocence but apologized for any perception of improper conduct. Ridley-Thomas has had an extensive political career, serving in various elected positions before being elected to the powerful county Board of Supervisors.
Attorneys for Ridley-Thomas argue that prosecutorial misconduct and misstatements of the law deprived him of his rights during the trial. Another individual involved in the scheme, Marilyn Flynn, pleaded guilty and received home confinement and a fine. The defense’s motion for bail pending appeal is now awaiting a hearing.
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