4 Plead Not Guilty In Colonies Corruption Case
SAN BERNARDINO (AP) — Four men charged with corruption in the San Bernardino County Colonies case have pleaded not guilty.
The Press-Enterprise of Riverside says former San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane, former assistant assessor Jim Erwin, businessman Jeff Burum and Mark Kirk, former chief of staff for Supervisor Gary Ovitt, entered their pleas to a reduced number of charges Friday in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
In May, a grand jury returned a 29-count indictment against the men that alleged they participated in a scheme to net Burum's company, Colonies Partners, with a $102 million settlement.
Defense attorneys say prosecutors overreached and charged their clients with counts that should not apply to them.
The defendants are scheduled to return to court Aug. 31.
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