Judge reduces bail for Bell councilman
A judge cut bail nearly in half on Friday for the only Bell official still in custody after his arrest in September.
Former Councilman Victor Bello's bail was reduced from $190,000 to $100,000 by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Henry J. Hall, Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. Hall decided to reduce it after expressing concern that Bello's former bail amount was higher than two other ex-council members.
This week, a judge ordered Bello and five other current and former council members to stand trial on charges that they looted the city treasury by accepting high pay for meetings that never occurred or lasted just a few minutes. A preliminary hearing for two other officials, former city administrator Robert Rizzo and his assistant Angela Spaccia, will begin on Tuesday.
Despite the bail reduction, Bello's attorney said he does not believe his client will be able to make bail.
Attorney Leo Moriarty, who is representing Bello pro bono, said Bello should be released on his own recognizance and is not a flight risk.
Moriarty said he plans to file a petition seeking Bello's release if he remains in custody much longer. Bello's jail stay has made it more difficult to defend him due to the limited conditions of jail visits, Moriarty said.
ALSO:
Arrest made in fatal shooting resulting from argument over Mexican states
Camp Pendleton Marine returns to brig for 2006 killing of Iraqi
Council candidate Rudy Martinez collapses; doctor blames stress, exhaustion
-- Nate Jackson
Photo: Victor Bello
Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
EDITOR'S PICKS:
what is it with these guys. Do they all have to look either like Howdy Doody, the penquin, or someone who is homeless? They're all creepy!
Posted by: Astonished | February 18, 2011 at 03:45 PM
You only have to come up with 10% of bail in cash, right? After the hundreds of thousands or million each of these crooks stole from Bell, this one can't come up with $18,000?
Posted by: Annie Oakley | February 18, 2011 at 04:18 PM
judge hall! you are the reason crime is so high in la.you should be put in jail with the bell 6!
Posted by: kuruc | February 18, 2011 at 05:19 PM
If he is the councilmember that sent the letter to district attorney?why did he get arrested?why did it take a year for steve cooley to start the investigation?this guy blew the wisttle on himself,cole,hernandez,jacobo,artiga, maribal,rizzo,spaccia,wait that's 8 we are missing one ooh ooh the ethics guy with the badge what's his name oooh oooh Chief Adams.Why did he get a free pass?oooh oooh Steve cooley's good friend.So why are we happy kamala won after numnuts had celebrated a victory?Thank you case closed.
Posted by: lone wolf | February 18, 2011 at 06:26 PM
What are the ramifications of this guy being the initial tipster to the DAs office? Is he all bad? This part of the picture does not make sense.
Posted by: Bill | February 18, 2011 at 08:00 PM
People,People....You still don't get it,The reason Bello is still in jail is because he wrote the letter to "honest"Steve Cooley's office. Apparentley Stevie did not want to hear that his best was dirty ,Heaven forbid a dirty police chief.To save face "honest "Stevie should replace Bello with "Beyond Reproach"Randy Adams.But we all know that it won't happen ME thinks Adams has Mucho dirty on the HONEST D.A.
Posted by: ten-29-me | February 19, 2011 at 08:19 AM
Okay, He's in jail because although he reported corruption, he was part of it accepting the ONE HOUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS per year for his part-time work! Oh yea, like the others, he also forgot to show up at the neetings and when he did, they only lasted seconds...
Posted by: John | February 19, 2011 at 06:13 PM