By: Steve Bousquet
Source: sayfiereview.com
State Rep. Ray Sansom and ex-college president Bob Richburg will be tried together on charges of official misconduct, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Circuit Judge Terry Lewis of Leon County also ruled that the two men will stand trial separately on perjury charges.
Lewis did not act on defense motions to dismiss charges against Sansom, Richburg and a third defendant, Destin developer Jay Odom, in part because both sides continue to file arguments with the court.
All three defendants attended Wednesday’s status conference across the street from the Capitol where, prosecutors say, Sansom used his power as House budget chairman to steer millions of tax dollars to Northwest Florida State College for a building that would double as a hangar that could store aircraft for Odom’s corporate jet business next door. Odom is a political ally of Sansom’s and a major Republican Party donor.
State Attorney Willie Meggs had asked the judge to consolidate the charges into one trial for the sake of “judicial economy.” He also said the evidence against all three men is the same.
Ray Sansom, Bob Richburg will be tried together on one charge, separately on another
[…] Judge Terry Lewis dismissed most of the charges against former House Speaker Ray Sansom accused of violating state laws by directing a $6 million project, for what was supposed to be an educational building, but turned out to be an airport hanger, to […]