State Sen. Rod Wright’s sentencing on felonies is delayed 2 months
State Sen. Roderick D. Wright’s sentencing on felony convictions has been postponed two months, until May 16, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Friday.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Bjorn Dodd said Wright’s defense attorney has asked for transcripts of all the trial testimony and those won’t be ready until the middle of next month.
Wright attorney Winston Kevin McKesson said Friday he needs the transcripts to prepare post-trial motions he will submit for Judge Kathleen Kennedy to consider.
Sentencing originally was scheduled for March 12.
The delay in effect buys Wright more time in his state Senate post, which he likely would lose upon sentencing.
A spokesman for Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg on Friday reaffirmed Steinberg’s decision not to call for a vote on whether to expel Wright until he is sentenced.
Spokesman Rhys Williams said Steinberg would act “based on if and when a judge enters the jury’s verdict.”
“Senate action leading to expulsion of a member is irreversible,” Williams added, and “cannot be undone if the trial court judge does not accept the jury verdict.”
Wright was convicted of eight felony counts of perjury and voter fraud last month when a jury found he had lied about his legal residence to run in a district he was not eligible to seek office in.
McKesson has said he will appeal the verdict.
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