1994 SPEC MIN FEB 11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC COMMENT: Attorney Zoe Taylor Reese, respresenting Mr. Al Stewart, stated her purpose tonight is not to address the projects in the City of Colton being managed by Mr. Stewart, but rather to inform the Council about the occurence that happened in another County. Attorney Reese said as the Council is aware, charges were filed against Mr. Stewart as reported in the newspaper. This stems from a 1992 incident. Early in December Mr. Stewart was contacted by the District Attorney for Riverside County and was invited to discuss a land transaction that had occurred in Riverside County, specifically, Coachella in which Mr. Stewart was involved. From all indications, that she could see, it was a normal land sale and development negotiations. Because the District Attorney requested his presence, Mr. Stewart agreed to meet with their investigator and requested that Attorney Taylor accompany him. They met with the District Attorney to discuss the incident. She asked the District Attorney if they would be willing to give Mr. Stewart immunity. The District Attorney did not grant Mr. Stewart immunity, but did state they had absolutely no reason to believe that Mr. Stewart was involved in any criminal act; they had no evidence nor were they conducting an investigation on him nor were they considering him a potential defendant in Riverside County at that time. The District Attorney indicated they had indicted another person and had gone through Grand Jury proceedings. The District Attorney stated they would send the Grand Jury transcript to them in order for them to familiarize themselves with the type of questions the District Attorney was interested in and the meeting would take place at a later date. This was agreed upon. The transcript was never sent to them. Attorney Taylor stated she contacted the District Attorney last week to retrieve some records left with them by Mr. Stewart and was informed at that time they were considering additional charges. The individual they had indicted earlier had been charged with several additional counts and at the very end of the complaint, Mr. Stewart was listed with two counts. At that time, Attorney Taylor asked the District Attorney for any evidence, reports, or any indication that Mr. Stewart was involved in any illegal activity. Attorney Taylor said she was not provided with any reports or information. At this time, Attorney Taylor, hired her own investigator to go out and interview people who had talked with the District Attorney. As a result of this investigation, Attorney Taylor said she could state that there appears to be nothing abnormal in the land sale or the development agreements that went on. Even though Mr. Stewart appeared in court, Attorney Taylor said the District Attorney still has not provided her with any reports indicating that Mr. Stewart is involved in any criminal ^� activity. 2 FEB 11 1994