Fired Deputy Wins Delay on Hearing
Fired Sheriff’s Deputy Rickey Ross on Wednesday won at least a month’s delay of an administrative hearing into whether he will get his job back. The continuance, informally reached in a Los Angeles courtroom, was the subject of a dispute between Ross’ new attorney, Howard Weitzman, and the Sheriff’s Department.
On Tuesday, Weitzman said he needed the time to study the controversial case. But a Sheriff’s representative argued that the delay would mean the loss of a key witness. Hearing officer Arnold L. Faber ruled against Weitzman, ordering the hearing to begin on Friday. Weitzman then sought to overrule Faber’s decision in Superior Court.
On Wednesday, before Judge Dzintra Janavs, an informal agreement was reached with county attorneys that the hearing would not start before Aug. 8.
Ross, 40, of Rialto, an 18-year department veteran, was fired on April 27 by Sheriff Sherman Block for allegedly abusing alcohol and drugs and soliciting sex from a prostitute.
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