Attorneys for former Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez have filed their latest briefs to the state Supreme Court, continuing their effort to keep their client out of jail more than four years since his conviction on corruption-related charges.
In the 45-page document, Perez's attorneys tell the justices they should affirm a lower court's ruling and order two new trials for the former mayor. This comes, according to the Hartford Courant, shortly after a state court judge rejected a deal that would have spared Perez jail time.
Perez was originally convicted in 2010 on charges relating to bribery and extortion while he was mayor. A judge sentenced him to three years in prison. But the former mayor remained free while he appealed that ruling. Then, in 2013, the state's appellate court threw out the original convictions and ordered two new trials.
While the appellate court ruled that there was enough evidence to convict Perez, it said the trial court judge made a procedural error that merited two new trials. This came after Perez's lawyer, Hubert Santos, argued that one court proceeding for two separate cases -- one about extortion, the other about bribery -- made it impossible for his client to get a fair trial. State prosecutors had argued they wanted to combine the cases for the purpose of judicial economy.
After the appellate court ruling, the state appealed to the state Supreme Court, where the case is pending.
Prosecutors now have until later this month to file their reply.
