Yorba Linda : Mayor’s Arraignment Postponed Until Feb. 6
Yorba Linda Mayor Michael Beverage’s arraignment on misdemeanor charges that he molested his 17-year-old stepson was postponed Monday until Feb. 6.
Court officials said the delay was granted to allow defense attorney Jeffrey H. Friedman to seek a court order barring further proceedings. Friedman claims that the district attorney’s office has failed to adequately specify the evidence on which the charges are based. Friedman says Beverage cannot and should not have to mount a defense without such information.
Last month Municipal Judge Linda L. Miller ruled that the district attorney’s office had included enough specifics in the charges to warrant a trial.
Friedman said Thursday that he had obtained a Superior Court ruling that forced Judge Miller to conduct last month’s hearing, and now he simply disagrees with her findings and wants to appeal them.
Beverage has insisted throughout the case that the charges are “hogwash” and stem from long-term hostility between him and his stepson.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Mathew Valence was unavailable Monday.
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