Former Pico Rivera city councilman convicted of conflict of interest

LOS ANGELES – Former Pico Rivera City Councilman Ronald Beilke today was convicted of conflict of interest, the District Attorney’s Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Sandi Roth of the Public Integrity Division said Beilke was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of conflict of interest for voting on contracts between the City of Pico Rivera and two private businesses, All American Asphalt and Mobility Solutions.

The work stipulated by the contracts benefited Beilke’s Wienerschnitzel franchise in Pico Rivera, the prosecutor said.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench ordered Beilke to return for sentencing on Feb. 18, 2011 in Department 132 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Jurors, who deliberated for two days, found Beilke not guilty of one count of perjury and two counts of conflict of interest, one a misdemeanor, the other a felony.

The contract between the City of Pico Rivera and All American Asphalt was for paving of the intersection within 500 feet of Beilke’s restaurant. The work included decorative, colored concrete, the prosecutor said.

The contract with Mobility Solutions was for the design of a street light, within 500 feet of Beilke’s business, which allowed traffic to flow freely into the shopping center directly connected to his restaurant.

Beilke faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail. At the time of sentencing, the judge could also issue an order prohibiting Beilke from running for or holding public office for four years.

Comments

[New Haven Funeral Homes]

So was he convicted because he didn't recuse himself from the vote? Or was his conduct during it called into fault?