Rizzo's proposed bail deal rejected by judge

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Friday denied a bail proposal by former Bell City Administrator Robert Rizzo, who is being held on $2-million bond.

Meanwhile, former Assistant City Administrator Angela Spaccia was expected to post bail sometime Friday and be released. She was being held on $350,000 bail.

On Tuesday, prosecutors argued that neither Rizzo nor seven other current or former Bell city leaders could not use money they alleged had been gathered illegally to post bail.

On Friday, Rizzo’s attorney, James Spertus, proposed putting up a combination of cash and real estate from friends and relatives.

However, Judge Michael Pastor denied the proposal, saying it would not ensure Rizzo’s continued appearance in court.

Rizzo has been in custody since his arrest Tuesday morning at his home in Huntington Beach. Seven other former or current city officials, including Spaccia and Mayor Oscar Hernandez, were also arrested in a sweeping public corruption case in which prosecutors contend more than $5 million was illegally taken from the small, working-class city southeast of Los Angeles.

Council members Luis Artiga and Teresa Jacobo and former Councilman George Cole have already posted bail.

-- Sam Quinones

Photos: A centerpiece of a gathering outside Bell City Hall celebrating the arrests is a poster featuring former City Manager Robert Rizzo being taken into custody earlier in the day. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[lwps]

Is he on parole for his DUI conviction?

[Jrwkilleen]

Please do NOT allow Rizzo...I mean, Jabba the Hut...out of jail. Keep that pig in and throw away the key!

[Choke on that!]

Kudos to the Judge for recognizing the serverity of the allegations against Rizzo.

Maybe Rizzo can borrow against those future earnings he was sure he could make in the private sector.

Don't accept his cadillacs, his farm , his horses, money from Werrlein, money from Tarango, money from Randy Sopp, or even their relatives, or anyone elese he might have funneled money too.

Let him do as the decent and hardworking people of Bell had to do when they were paying illegal taxes, assessment fees, towing charges and their mortgages. Let him scrammble and come up with clean, hard-earned money - or suffer the loss, including the priviledge of living in a house.

Rizzo had no mercy on the people of Bell. With each passing year, he became emboldened and arrogant. And so, I say let him "choke on" the judge's bail amount like he told taxpayers they could "choke on" on his salary figure.

[Mr. G...]

They need to also treat CELEBRITIES the exact same way.
Why do they ALWAYS seem to get special treatment. A criminal is a CRIMINAL!. Enough of this double standard system..................

[Free the Bell 8!]

Let them flee the country so they can't collect their outrageous pensions! Let's not waste another penny of taxpayer money on these idiots.

[MikeFurg]

It has been getting increasingly difficult to try to figure out what they are trying to say in this newspaper: "On Tuesday, prosecutors argued that neither Rizzo nor seven other current or former Bell city leaders could not use money they alleged had been gathered illegally to post bail."

[Chas Leon]

I'm sure most of the citizens of California are relieved to hear that Rizzo and his cohorts will have to stay incarcerated. I applaud the juris prudence of this Judge. Why is it that something as insane as this event have to be exposed before the authorities will take the proper steps to bring theives and extortinist to justice? This will be a ball and chain for all local, state and national political politicians. Do they teach "Ethics" when studying for a "Degree in Public Administration"? Just political criminals, theives and sewage sludge, and they're considered city fathers? What a joke! Good riddence, now for the rest of them, where are they? CHAS LEON, Riverside,

[jay]

He looks like the Penguin from Bat man

[Fight Corruption]

I hope Spaccia rots in jail. The DA has to arrest Felipe Aguirre from Maywood before he escapes into Mexico.

[Decent American]

What are you willing to bet Angela Spaccia's married boyfriend Randy "My Back Hurts" Adams posted bail. I hope his wife didn't find out he mortaged their beach front home in Costa Rica to do it. Hey Adams - Michael Josephson says to STOP with all the quotes about "Ethics" to the rank and file - He is sick of it already.