San Diego

A San Diego County Municipal Court judge Tuesday ordered jailed financier J. David (Jerry) Dominelli to appear in court Jan. 29 to report on efforts to find an attorney to replace Nicholas DePento, who asked to be released from Dominelli’s case because he was not being paid. Dominelli, who faces charges of conspiracy and perjury as well as a 25-count federal indictment, had indicated earlier that he would ask for a court-appointed attorney because he could not afford to hire one, said Michael Squibb, an attorney representing DePento. Squibb said Tuesday that Dominelli, accused of defrauding hundreds of investors of millions of dollars through his now-bankrupt J. David & Co. investment firm, had decided to delay asking for the court-appointed attorney and would seek financial help from relatives.