Two Hollister men told a local judge they never attempted to
influence a jury in an effort to stop a domestic violence
conviction and save one man’s expensive gun collection when they
plead not guilty in San Benito County Superior Court Wednesday,
according to their attorneys.
Hollister – Two Hollister men told a local judge they never attempted to influence a jury in an effort to stop a domestic violence conviction and save one man’s expensive gun collection when they plead not guilty in San Benito County Superior Court Wednesday, according to their attorneys.
Doug Hogeman, 40, and co-defendant Ronald Martin each face three years in state prison and $10,000 in fines for allegedly attempting to bribe jurors in a domestic violence trial, in which Hogeman was convicted, last March. The attorneys for both men say their is no evidence proving they did anything wrong.
“There is no evidence that connected my client to the alleged co-defendant and juror,” said Greg LaForge, Hogeman’s attorney.
The District Attorney’s office suspects Hogeman and Martin tried to bribe jurors before Hogeman’s domestic violence trial began last spring in an effort to save Hogeman’s firearm collection. When sheriff deputies responded to Hogeman’s home after his wife reported the assault, they seized a valuable 30-piece gun collection from his wife. The District Attorney’s Office believes Hogeman and Martin were trying to tamper with the jury to save him from a felony conviction that would cost him the gun collection. State law prohibits convicted felons from owning firearms.
Hogeman, who owns a construction business, was arrested in March on the jury tampering and conspiracy charges and later released on a $20,000 bond. He was also sentenced to 90 days in the San Benito County jail in April for the
domestic violence conviction. He served time in jail from May 13 to July 2.
Martin was referred to the DA’s office for the same charges last spring and was booked into county jail and released on July 31.
Arthur Cantu, Martin’s attorney, said there is absolutely no evidence against his client.
“It became clear from the beginning of the trial that the prosecution was unable to show he had made any contact with the jurors,” said Cantu.
District Attorney John Sarsfield refused to comment on details of the case.
Both Hogeman and Martin are scheduled for trial February 14, 2005.
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or
ki*****@fr***********.com
