by | Apr 29, 2010 9:54 pm | Comments (0)
The Shelton code of ethics is too vague, so James Botti can’t be guilty.
That’s the gist of the argument by Botti’s attorney, William Dow III, in motions asking a judge to throw out Botti’s recent conviction or at least order a new trial in his corruption case.
by and | Apr 1, 2010 11:26 pm | Comments (0)
The judge was fair. A gentlemen, in fact. And Happy Easter.
Those were the cautious words of James Botti Thursday, shortly after a federal judge in New Haven declared a mistrial on two of the three criminal charges lodged against the Shelton developer.
An 11-person jury couldn’t come to a decision on the conspiracy and bribery charges. They did find Botti guilty of mail fraud, which carries a 20-year maximum sentence.
Botti was already facing a possible 10-year prison sentence stemming for two convictions in November for structuring money and conspiring to structure money.
He’ll be sentenced June 18.
Continue reading ‘Lauretti Mum On Botti Conviction, Mistrial’
by | Apr 1, 2010 7:23 am | Comments (0)
The drama started with a journal — a yellow, flowered journal — and ended with one of the 12 jurors for the James Botti federal corruption trial dismissed from the case, riding the train home without her shoes.
by | Mar 30, 2010 6:20 pm | Comments (0)
Jury deliberations in the James Botti federal corruption trial were cut short Tuesday by a late afternoon bomb threat to an unspecified New Haven court.
But a note from the jury earlier that day made a verdict Tuesday appear unlikely anyway.
by | Mar 29, 2010 7:36 pm | Comments (0)
Only one note came out of the jury room during deliberations in the James Botti corruption trial Monday.
“We’re looking to stop at 4:30?” the note said.
No verdict — which means the jury will start deliberating again at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
by | Mar 26, 2010 4:20 pm | Comments (0)
The jury in James Botti’s federal corruption trial appeared to zero in on the approval of Botti’s 828 Bridgeport Ave. project during its deliberations Friday.
The jury requested to see transcripts of testimony from three planning and zoning commissioners regarding the week the project was approved.
by | Mar 26, 2010 2:48 pm | Comments (0)
Update: No verdict today, as the judge dismissed the jury a bit early.
Original post follows:
Jurors deliberating the case against Shelton developer James Botti this morning asked for the transcripts of testimony from three witnesses.
The jury sent out a note at 11:30 a.m. requesting the information.
The asked for testimony from Allan Cribbins, the former chairman of the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission, along with testimony from former commissioners Daniel Orazietti and Leon Sylvester.
Continue reading ‘Botti Jury Asks About Shelton P&Z Testimony’
by | Mar 25, 2010 11:27 pm | Comments (0)
Determining guilt in a conspiracy case is kind of like determining if someone plays for the Boston Red Sox.
Proof that the team exists is not enough to prove that someone plays for it, said U.S. District Judge Charles Haight as he explained the duties to the jury in the James Botti federal corruption trial Thursday afternoon.
by | Mar 25, 2010 1:14 pm | Comments (0)
The 12-person jury for James Botti’s federal corruption trial began deliberations at 2:05 p.m. Thursday.
Judge Charles Haight spent about three hours explaining the charges and the law the jurors must apply before sending home four alternates on the jury.
Two men and two women were released, leaving the jury’s composition at seven men and five women.
Haight gave no time limit to the jury, saying they could decide what time to end deliberations each day.
More details about the rules of law will follow in a later story.
by | Mar 24, 2010 10:37 pm | Comments (0)
Was Shelton developer James Botti “greasing the wheel“ to become a big developer in Shelton?
Or was he simply following the old-time values that people in the Valley embrace when he did favors for the mayor and gave gifts to public officials?
Each perspective was argued Wednesday at U.S. District Court in New Haven during closing arguments in Botti’s federal corruption trial.
