Briefly in the news

Costa Mesa Councilman Chris Steel’s court hearing on felony perjury

charges has been postponed from today to Jan. 11 at the request of the

prosecutor, Steel attorney Ron Cordova said Thursday.

The district attorney has accused the councilman of allowing resident

Richard Noack to sign election nomination papers on behalf of his wife

during the 2000 election and of Steel himself signing for a legally blind

woman in 1998.

Steel has consistently pleaded not guilty to the charges and declined

plea bargain offers from the district attorney.

On Jan. 11, Cordova is expected to make a motion asking the judge to

throw out one of the charges relating to the 2000 incident.

His argument is based on a Superior Court judge’s ruling on a civil

case brought against Steel by resident Michael Szkaradek. The judge in

that case found no merit to the charge.

Cordova said he does not expect a jury trial to begin until late

February or early March.