The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Local
    • Palmdale
    • Lancaster
    • Los Angeles County
    • Littlerock
    • Lake Los Angeles
    • Rosamond
    • Edwards AFB
    • Acton
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Show Search

Former LACo Supervisor Ridley-Thomas criminal trial moved to November

by City News Service • July 1, 2022

Mark Ridley-Thomas [Image via LA County]
The federal criminal trial for former Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas on bribery and conspiracy charges has been delayed until November.

Ridley-Thomas faces trial along with former dean of the USC School of Social Work Marilyn Flynn.

The pair were initially scheduled for trial on Aug. 9, 2022, but U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer this week issued an order setting a Nov. 15 trial date.

The defendants are charged in a 20-count indictment alleging a secret deal whereby Ridley-Thomas — when he was a member of the county Board of Supervisors — agreed to steer county money to the university in return for admitting his son Sebastian Ridley-Thomas into graduate school with a full- tuition scholarship and a paid professorship.

Flynn allegedly arranged to funnel a $100,000 donation from Ridley-Thomas’ campaign funds through the university to a nonprofit to be operated by his son, a former member of the state Assembly. The donation prompted an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles that remains open, prosecutors said.

In exchange, the indictment contends, Ridley-Thomas supported county contracts involving the School of Social Work, including lucrative deals to provide services to the county Department of Children and Family Services and Probation Department, as well as an amendment to a contract with the Department of Mental Health that would bring the school millions of dollars in new revenue.

Both defendants have strongly denied any wrongdoing and promise that evidence will clear their names. Ridley-Thomas has held elected office for more than three decades. He served as a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from from 2008 to 2020. He then served on the Los Angeles City Council from 2020 until his expulsion from the council in 2022.

Judge Fisher indicated this week that she would likely deny a defense request to order separate trials for Ridley-Thomas and Flynn.

Previous related stories:

August trial date set in Ridley-Thomas corruption case

Mark Ridley-Thomas, ex-USC dean indicted in alleged bribery scheme

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Home, Los Angeles County, Politics

Recent Comments

  • Bert Parks on Readers Speak Out! (January 2023): “If Miss America is unable to fulfill her duties, the First Runner UP Miss Florida, Rhonda Santis will take the…” May 28, 17:40
  • Gregorius Anicius on Readers Speak Out! (January 2023): “My calendar could remedy this problem, and Socrates could be brought back from the dead simply through juggling the details…” May 28, 10:08
  • Socrates (already dead, 680BC) on Readers Speak Out! (January 2023): “I suggest that your bedroom antics be examined by a ‘psychiatric professional’ for the vigor and perversion it exhibits. it’s…” May 28, 10:05
  • E. Pluribus (Unum) on LACo sheriff’s deputy union challenges tattoo, gang probe orders: “hang on. how can ALADS suggest that subversion of law can be achieved through contract negotiation? if ‘gangs’ are ‘criminals’…” May 28, 10:01
  • Truth on Sheriff’s deputy charged with abusing 5-year-old son: “Domestic violence is an automatic ticket to get your guns taken away on a federal level. No owning guns for…” May 28, 08:05

Copyright © 2023 · The AV Times LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use