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« Testimony begins in trial of ex-Lincoln administrator | Today | Audio: Bakst interviews Rep. Kennedy on Obama choice » January 29, 2008Oster trial: Prosecution seeks to link ex-planning officialPROVIDENCE -- The prosecution in the bribery and conspiracy trial of ex-Lincoln Town Administrator Jonathan F. Oster sought to show this morning that an ex-Lincoln Planning Board member was a significant campaign fund-raiser for Oster. Under prosecutor Bethany Macktaz's questioning, Michael Hill, Oster’s campaign treasurer, testified that in 2000 Oster's campaign raised $43,284 -- and that $10,655 of it came from a fund-raiser Macktaz said former planning official/former Oster ally Robert Picerno organized at the Aurora civic club in December 2000. But Oster's defense lawyer, C. Leonard O'Brien, sought to play down Picerno's role in the fundraising activities. He pointed out that $10,655 figure did not include expenses for a sit-down dinner. He also pressed Hill on how heavily involved Picerno was in the fundraiser, suggesting to Hill that it was not referred to as a Picerno fundraiser until state police started calling it that with Hill. Oster faces two charges of bribery and two counts of conspiracy for alleged activities when he was town administrator from 2000 to 2002. Oster’s case concerns six acres on Route 116 near the Blackstone River called the H&H Screw property. The land's legal status has remained unresolved since the early 1990s when the owner went bankrupt and no one took title to the property. Macktaz said in opening statements yesterday that the state will show that twice, in 2001 and 2002, with different buyers, Oster and Picerno conspired to sell the property at a “rock bottom” price in exchange for bribes. In 2004, Picerno pleaded no contest to four counts of bribery and three counts of conspiracy related to this case. The defense lawyer contends Picerno is seeking leniency in his sentencing. Testimony is slated to resume at 2 p.m. today following lunch. -- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer John Hill Testimony begins in trial of ex-Lincoln administrator Oster Earlier today, current Lincoln Town Clerk Karen Allen gave testimony as the state began to lay the case's groundwork. The state introduced into evidence town land records and tax assessor records mostly concerning a piece of property on Route 116 known as the H&H Screw company land. The property figures prominently in the state’s case, as it claims Oster took bribes in exchange for promises to sell it. On cross examination, defense lawyer C. Leonard O’Brien challenged some of the records, particularly those from the assessor's office that discussed the value of the land. O’Brien argued that since Allen wasn’t involved in production or recording of the records, she was not qualified to testify about them, and therefore they should not have been entered into evidence. Superior Court Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia overruled O'Brien's objection, admitting the records into the official court documents. Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsDave L | January 29, 2008 3:29 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
I hope he goes to jail for a long time