Compton : James Hearing Delayed

A preliminary hearing in the election fraud case of Councilman Floyd A. James and political consultant Roderick Wright was been postponed for a second time because a defense lawyer encountered a scheduling conflict.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Candace J. Beason said the hearing was rescheduled for June 27 in Division 38 of Los Angeles Municipal Court. All of the charges stem from James’ bitter but successful reelection campaign in the spring of 1985. A grand jury indictment in December accused both men of authoring a fraudulent political mailer smearing James’ opponent, and trying to buy votes by offering record albums of a Jesse Jackson speech to electors who pledged their support. James and Wright have pleaded innocent. If convicted, they would each face up to nine years in state prison.