San Diego

A cement contractor was convicted Friday of three counts of wire fraud in an attempt to bilk attorney Oscar Goodman, who represented former Mayor Roger Hedgecock, out of $50,000.

The seven-man, five-woman jury deliberated 3 1/2 hours Friday afternoon before returning their verdicts against Leon Haywood, 51, of Encanto.

Haywood could face 15 years in federal prison and a $3,000 fine when U.S. District Judge Howard Turrentine sentences him on March 10.

Goodman testified Friday that Haywood called him at his Las Vegas office several weeks after Goodman filed motions for a new trial for Hedgecock in which he alleged that jury tampering occurred because of improper conduct by bailiff Al Burroughs.

Goodman said Haywood told him he “had information that would be vital” for the new trial motion and would sell it to Goodman for $50,000. Haywood claimed that he was the intermediary for another man who knew one of the jurors, Goodman testified.

Tape recordings of Goodman’s telephone conversations with Haywood were played to the jury. Goodman said he contacted the FBI after hearing of the demand for money.

“I’m sick to my stomach. I don’t care for this at all,” said Goodman afterward to reporters about his role as prosecution witness. “I feel sorry for this guy. I really do. He’s a poor soul.”

After his federal court appearance, Goodman was to appear Friday before the closed proceedings of the county grand jury, which is investigating the case of a woman who allegedly tried to bilk Goodman in exchange for information on the Hedgecock case.