Second trial avoided in Mayor’s alleged altercation with
Sheriffs
George Dias, the mayor of San Juan Bautista, accepted a plea
bargain rather than face another trial due to an alleged
altercation with San Benito County sheriff’s officers at the scene
of a trailer fire April 14, 2007.
Second trial avoided in Mayor’s alleged altercation with Sheriffs
George Dias, the mayor of San Juan Bautista, accepted a plea bargain rather than face another trial due to an alleged altercation with San Benito County sheriff’s officers at the scene of a trailer fire April 14, 2007.
Dias first faced charges of resisting arrest and causing bodily injury at a trial earlier this year that resulted in a hung jury.
Deputies reports alleged that during an altercation between Dias and Deputy Jason Leist, Leist fell into some bushes and was cut by the branches, according to deputy reports. Leist received five stitches on his lower left ear and three stitches on the left side of his face.
“The District Attorney [Candice Hooper] agreed to dismiss the more serious charge of resisting arrest and causing serious bodily injury,” said Lawrence Biegel, Dias’ lawyer. “In return Mr. Dias entered a plea to a lesser charge of delaying an officer in the course of his duties.”
Dias was fined $400 and put on probation for six months, but will not have to report to a probation officer, Biegel said. Dias was also given one day in jail with credit for the day already served.
“The justice system did it’s job,” said Curtis Hill, sheriff for San Benito County.
Biegel said Dias hopes that relations with the sheriff’s department will improve and that the level of service they offer San Juan will also improve.
“He felt that as a representative of his town, his city, it would be a statesman-like thing to end this feud with the sheriff’s department,” Biegel said.
If he performs his probation in a satisfactory manner, Dias will be eligible to have the charges dismissed at the end of six months, Biegel said.
