D.A. Delays Decision to Retry Councilwoman
The Riverside County district attorney’s office agreed to postpone a decision Thursday on whether to retry Perris Councilwoman Rita Rogers on drug charges.
A jury in March deadlocked on charges that Rogers, 55, conspired with her son to make and sell crack cocaine.
The same jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts against the councilwoman’s son, Joseph Raymond Rogers, 30, including charges of manufacturing and possessing crack cocaine with intent to sell. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Tim Freer said Thursday that his office was negotiating with Rogers and her new attorney, Jeffrey Van Wagenen Jr., about a possible plea agreement. The councilwoman declined to comment.
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