BREA : Arraignment of Mayor Postponed

The arraignment of Mayor Ronald E. Isles was postponed until next Thursday after his attorney told a municipal judge that he needed another week to complete discovery proceedings in the case.

Isles’ attorney, Thomas Avdeef, said he had not yet obtained all of the paperwork and reports in the case from the Orange County district attorney’s office. Isles was charged with 21 criminal misdemeanor counts May 19, alleging that he violated conflict-of-interest laws by casting votes on issues involving a longtime business partner and failed to disclose millions of dollars in loans and other financial interests.

The mayor was not present in court Thursday and Avdeef showed up more than an hour late. Municipal Judge John W. McOwen had initially threatened to issue a bench warrant for Isles’ arrest because the mayor had failed to show up for his scheduled arraignment. Avdeef said later that his delayed appearance was inadvertent and caused by a scheduling conflict.

If convicted, Isles could face six months in jail and maximum fines of $10,000 per count.

Isles has served on the City Council since winning election in 1988 and was appointed mayor last December. He also served on the City Council from 1980 to 1983.