Hedgecock Case Dismissed After 6 Years, 2 Trials

Formally closing the lengthy court saga of former Mayor Roger Hedgecock, a Superior Court judge Monday reduced Hedgecock’s sole felony conspiracy conviction for political corruption to a misdemeanor, then dismissed the case outright.

Following the script outlined in a plea bargain struck last month, a complex deal crafted to permit face-saving for prosecutors and for Hedgecock, Judge Herbert Exarhos dismissed the charge, ending a legal case that had dragged on for six years and two trials.

Stemming from illegal donations to Hedgecock’s 1983 mayoral race, the first trial ended in a hung jury. The second resulted in 13 felony convictions, but an appeal overturned 12 of the 13--setting the stage for last month’s deal.

“We didn’t break open the champagne,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Thomas McArdle said Monday. “It’s just another case that’s concluded, and we think a proper conclusion was brought to it.”

Hedgecock, who is on vacation, could not be reached. His attorney, Charles Sevilla, said, “It feels very good. When you look back over the terrain, we started with 13 felonies and a year in custody.”

Sevilla was referring to the one-year jail term to which Hedgecock had been sentenced after his October, 1985, conviction. Under the deal, he served no jail time, agreed to pay a $5,000 fine and averted a third trial.

“Today,” Sevilla said, “Roger has a single dismissed misdemeanor. It’s not going to be like him having an albatross over his head, nor will it in any way cloud his future.”

Hedgecock must disclose his misdemeanor record should he be asked about it in any application for public office, if he applies for a state or local license or if he seeks to contract with the California Lottery, according to the plea bargain.

The felony charge could have cost Hedgecock his law license and barred him from running from public office. Hedgecock has said repeatedly, however, that he does not intend to resume the practice of law or seek public office.