Vincent Cardinalli Sr., 64, will remain in custody without bail
after Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hector E. Ramon
denied a motion to reduce his bail Thursday.
Vincent Cardinalli Sr., 64, will remain in custody without bail after Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hector E. Ramon denied a motion to reduce his bail Thursday.
The former tow truck operator faces 25 years to life in prison.
Meanwhile, defense attorney Mike Pekin withdrew as his attorney, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Dale Lohman said. A new attorney could be appointed at a Feb. 19 hearing. Pekin did not return a call for comment Friday.
Cardinalli and his son Paul Greer, along with two other family members and a process server now face a total of 169 felony charges stemming from hundreds of lawsuits filed in hopes of collecting towing and storage fees for their defunct towing businesses. Charges include perjury, extortion, grand theft, fraud and embezzlement.
Cardinalli Sr. could be sentenced to life in prison because of California’s Three Strikes law. Some of the charges include special allegations that Cardinalli Sr. committed some of the suspected crimes while out on bail.
All five defendants are expected to enter pleas at a hearing Feb. 29. At the same hearing, a judge should set a date to hear evidence to decide whether the two men should be tried for the suspected crimes.
