Former mayor Pougnet declines to comment after being booked into jail
Former Palm Springs mayor Steve Pougnet has surrendered to authorities in Riverside following charges filed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office alleging public corruption in Palm Springs from September 2015.
Watch: Steve Pougnet walks out of jail, declining to comment to KESQ and CBS Local 2
He’s facing bribery and conflict of interest charges from an estimated $375,000 paid to him from local developers Richard Meaney and John Wessman.
We reached to Malcolm Segal, Pougnet’s attorney for comment. Segal sent us a brief statement saying, “Mr. Pougnet will plead not guilty at the appropriate point in the process. The Sheriff’s Department treated him fairly and decently under the circumstances. They have a difficult job and do it well. Their courtesy during a very long day was greatly appreciated.”
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KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2’s Jeremy Chen was the only TV news reporter in Riverside as Pougnet surrendered to police at about 9 a.m. Wednesday. Pougnet and his attorney declined to comment to us when entering and leaving the Robert Presley Detention Center.
They walked out of the jail at about 1:50 p.m. Pougnet’s arraignment date has been set for April, 21 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Developers John Wessman and Richard Meaney are also facing charges connected to the Scandal in Palm Springs. They surrendered to authorities last week and both bailed out of jail, posting $25,000.
Pougnet is facing public corruption charges stemming from his work with developers John Wessman and Richard Meaney.
Pougnet made his return to Riverside and surrendered at the Robert Presley Detention Center. He was with his attorney when he entered the jail. Pougnet and his attorney wouldn’t speak to us on camera; they sat there quietly and waited.
Video: In-Depth Coverage details public corruption investigation
