Attorneys of three accused in Scandal at City Hall to appear in court
The three men who have been the focus of the investigation into the Scandal at City Hall will be back in court Friday. John Wessman, Richard Meaney, and Steve Pougnet will appear at Larson Justice Center in Indio at 1:30 p.m.
John Wessman, a Coachella Valley developer, and Richard Meaney, an area businessman, are accused of paying former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet around $375,000 between 2012 and 2014 in order to curry favor and earn his vote on their development projects when they came before the city council.
Payments to Pougnet were allegedly drawn directly from accounts maintained by Meaney’s Union Abbey Co. and Wessman Development Inc., according to court documents.
The last time the Wessman, Pougnet, and Meaney appeared in court was October 6, when the three appeared to enter not guilty pleas.
More: The Scandal at City Hall Interactive Timeline
If convicted on all counts, Pougnet could face up to 19 years in state prison and be barred for life from holding public office. Meaney and Wessman could each face a prison sentence of 12 years.
A KESQ & CBS Local 2 news team will be in court on Friday for full coverage. Stay with us for the latest updates on this story.
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