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Log inEx-tribal governor’s case goes to jury
Ex-tribal governor’s case goes to jury
by Outspoken on Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:05 am
Ex-tribal governor’s case goes to jury
Jury begins deliberations in trial of ex-Passamaquoddy governor
By Judy Harrison
Staff Writer Bangor Daily News
BANGOR, Maine — Defense attorneys told jurors in closing arguments Tuesday that finding a former governor of the Indian Township Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe and the tribe’s ex-business manager guilty of misusing funds boils down to whether the two intended to defraud the government or considered transfers of money from one account to another as loans.
The trial of Robert L Newell, 65, of Indian Township and James J. Parisi Jr., 45, of Portland on multiple charges — including conspiracy, misapplication of government funds and falsifying documents — wound down Tuesday afternoon. The jury deliberated for two hours before going home for the night at 6 p.m.
Jurors are scheduled to resume deliberations today and continue sorting through thousands of pages of documents submitted as evidence in the 11-day trial.
The prosecutor urged them to carefully consider the documents that have been submitted in the case and to follow the money.
“Robert Newell told the tribal council that as long as there was a federal government, Indian Township would never run out of money,” Assistant U.S. Attorney James Chapman Jr. told the jury in his closing argument.
“He treated restricted federal funds as if it was a big pot of money to benefit himself, his family, his friends and tribal council members. The more cash he handed out, the more political power he would have.”
Newell’s attorney, Matthew Erickson of Brewer, urged jurors to ask themselves if at the time the alleged misapplication of funds took place, Newell believed that what he was doing wasn't improper or illegal.
“If he had that good-faith belief at that time, it would negate the willful or knowing conduct you would have to find [he had in order] to convict,” the attorney said.
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/93557.html
Jury begins deliberations in trial of ex-Passamaquoddy governor
By Judy Harrison
Staff Writer Bangor Daily News
BANGOR, Maine — Defense attorneys told jurors in closing arguments Tuesday that finding a former governor of the Indian Township Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe and the tribe’s ex-business manager guilty of misusing funds boils down to whether the two intended to defraud the government or considered transfers of money from one account to another as loans.
The trial of Robert L Newell, 65, of Indian Township and James J. Parisi Jr., 45, of Portland on multiple charges — including conspiracy, misapplication of government funds and falsifying documents — wound down Tuesday afternoon. The jury deliberated for two hours before going home for the night at 6 p.m.
Jurors are scheduled to resume deliberations today and continue sorting through thousands of pages of documents submitted as evidence in the 11-day trial.
The prosecutor urged them to carefully consider the documents that have been submitted in the case and to follow the money.
“Robert Newell told the tribal council that as long as there was a federal government, Indian Township would never run out of money,” Assistant U.S. Attorney James Chapman Jr. told the jury in his closing argument.
“He treated restricted federal funds as if it was a big pot of money to benefit himself, his family, his friends and tribal council members. The more cash he handed out, the more political power he would have.”
Newell’s attorney, Matthew Erickson of Brewer, urged jurors to ask themselves if at the time the alleged misapplication of funds took place, Newell believed that what he was doing wasn't improper or illegal.
“If he had that good-faith belief at that time, it would negate the willful or knowing conduct you would have to find [he had in order] to convict,” the attorney said.
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/93557.html
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Plato (427-347 BC)
