Bell Mayor Slams Court Fees 'On Steroids'

BELL (CBS/AP) — The mayor of the scandal-plagued city of Bell says he's being overcharged for court documents as he fights charges that he and others looted his city out of millions of dollars.

Bell Mayor Oscar Hernandez disputes the $712 charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office for copying documents and recorded prosecution interviews.

Hernandez made about $100,000-a-year until a salary scandal prompted Bell officials to slash their pay earlier this year.

He and seven others are charged with misappropriating $5.5 million in public funds.

His attorney, Stanley L. Friedman, filed a motion Tuesday asking a judge to reduce the bill, calling it "billing on steroids."

District attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons says the price covers duplication costs and isn't unusual.

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