8 Bell Officials Due In Court Monday
BELL (CBS) — Eight current and former Bell city officials are due in court Monday for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require them to stand trial on charges that they misappropriated public funds.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge or commissioner is expected to first hear the case against Mayor Oscar Hernandez, 63; Vice Mayor Teresa Jacobo, 53; City Councilman George Mirabal, 61, and former councilmen Luis Artiga, 49; George Cole, 61; and Victor Bello, 52.
The next case to be heard involves former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo, 57; former Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia, 52; and additional charges against Hernandez and Artiga.
Rizzo is also charged with conflict of interest and misappropriation of records in a separate case.
The eight were arrested Sept. 21 in connection with allegations that they bilked taxpayers out of roughly $5.5 million through hefty salaries, benefits and illicit loans of public money.
The eight have pleaded not guilty, and all but Bello have been freed on bail.
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