State Sen. Roderick Wright wins sentencing delay to July 21
Democratic state Sen. Roderick Wright, who represents an Inglewood district, has won a delay in his sentencing on voter fraud and perjury convictions.
Wright was to have been sentenced May 16 and would have faced possible expulsion from the Legislature’s upper house. His attorney was able to have the sentencing moved to July 21, the district attorney’s office said Monday, to allow more time to prepare a motion for a new trial.
A Los Angeles jury convicted Wright in late January on all eight charges stemming from a county grand jury’s indictment of Wright on allegations that he lied about his legal residence to run for his Senate seat, an office he first won in 2008.
In March, the state Senate suspended — with pay — Wright and two other lawmakers, Sens. Ronald S. Calderon (D-Montebello) and Leland Yee (D-San Francisco).
Calderon and Yee were arrested on bribery and other corruption charges resulting from separate FBI sting operations. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Wright has maintained his innocence, and his attorney has said he would appeal to a higher court if Judge Kathleen Kennedy does not grant him a new trial.
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