Judge delays decision on seal for grand jury transcripts in Palm Springs corruption case
INDIO (CNS) - A judge today delayed a decision on whether to publicly release grand jury transcripts in the bribery case against former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet and two Coachella Valley developers, saying he wanted time to review the material to see it contains potentially inadmissible evidence.Pougnet, 56, and developers Richard Hugh Meaney, 53, and John Elroy Wessman, 80, were indicted in August after the case was presented to a grand jury by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.Pougnet was indicted on 21 counts, including perjury, public corruption and conflict of interest, while Meaney and Wessman were each indicted on multiple counts of bribery of a public official and conspiracy.In September, Wessman's attorney, David Greenberg, filed a motion to keep t