CHIEF Solicitor J. Robert Glass Jr., who is prosecuting Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres, told the Superior Court on Monday that he has proposed a plea bargain with the defendant.
Chief Solicitor J. Robert Glass Jr., center, and Assistant Attorney General Steven Kessel, left, exit a courtroom after a status conference hearing on Monday afternoon.
“The offer stands until Dec. 31,” added Glass who was joined by Assistant Attorney General Steven Kessel at the prosecution table during the hearing before Judge Pro Tem Alberto Tolentino.
Glass also told the court that he expects the trial to last for two weeks.
The proposed plea agreement was not filed in court, Variety learned.
The governor was present in the courtroom and was represented by his brother, attorney Victorino Torres, and attorney Viola Alepuyo.
During the hearing, Judge Tolentino denied attorney Torres’ request to schedule the trial for August 2023.
The lawyer said there was no basis to “fast-track” the case for jury trial, adding that the current schedule will conflict with his other client’s trial schedule.
In response, Judge Tolentino said, “An expeditious resolution of the matters [will] benefit everyone involved in the case…. Feb. 13 is the trial date.”
The judge said Jan. 13 is the deadline for submission of other motions to the court.
In addition, a pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 30 at 3 p.m.
On April 8, 2022, the AG’s office filed a criminal case against the governor, alleging 12 counts of misconduct in public office and one count of theft relating to the issuance of airline tickets for business class, first class, or other premium class travel for himself and/or Diann T. Torres, his wife.
The complaint alleged that Torres committed “misconduct in public office” on nine occasions from April to December 2018 in connection with his purchases of business class, first class and other premium travel tickets for himself and his wife, Diann T. Torres.
The complaint included theft charges related to the governor’s travel expenses amounting to $20,000 between April 2018 and May 30, 2019, using public funds.
The case also alleged one count of contempt for failure to appear in compliance with a legislative subpoena.
The governor has denied the charges.
In September, Judge Tolentino dismissed without prejudice the contempt charge against the governor.
According to the judge, there was “impermissible exposure to privileged and confidential information that prevents Glass from prosecuting Governor Torres for Count XIV (Contempt).”
“Dismissed without prejudice” means it can be refiled.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and his brother, attorney Victorino DLG Torres, are followed by reporters as they leave the courtroom Monday afternoon.
