Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/29/2011 10:37:41 PM PST
A San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered that the Grand Jury testimony of a former county official be unsealed.
Judge Michael A. Smith ordered the release of transcripts of testimony given by Jim Lindley, the county's former public health director and former director of purchasing, before the county's civil Grand Jury on April 21.
Defense attorney Stephen Larson requested the transcripts. He is defending Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum in a corruption case.
Burum and three former county officials are accused of conspiring to expedite a legal settlement between the county and Rancho Cucamonga investor group Colonies Partners LP, of which Burum is a co-managing partner, in exchange for bribes.
The county settled with Colonies in November 2006 for a landmark $102 million, ending a nearly five-year legal battle over flood-control easements at the developer's 434-acre residential and commercial development in Upland.
Prosecutors allege the settlement was tainted by bribery and blackmail. Also charged are former county Supervisor Paul Biane, former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin and Mark Kirk, former chief of staff for Supervisor Gary Ovitt. All four defendants deny any wrongdoing.
Lindley's Grand Jury testimony occurred the same month state and local prosecutors impaneled the special criminal Grand Jury to hear testimony in the Colonies' case. His testimony was subsequently summarized to the criminal Grand Jury by prosecutor Lewis Cope, Larson said.
Larson said that when all the evidence is presented, Burum will be vindicated.
"We are confident once all the information is out in the open it will clearly establish Mr. Burum's innocence," Larson said.
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Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_19437802?source=most_viewed#ixzz1fEBkSV4b
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