The district attorney’s prosecution of a Chula Vista councilman on perjury charges failed yesterday when a Superior Court jury found Steve Castaneda not guilty of six of the 10 counts. Chula Vista Councilman Steve Castaneda (left), shown with his attorney, Marc Carlos, said the trial had been “politically devastating to me. I don’t know that it’ll ever get back to where it was. But it’s a good start.” Castaneda (right) got a pat on the back from his attorney after the jury found the councilman not guilty on six of 10 perjury counts; the judge declared a mistrial on the others. Castaneda was the first elected official to be tried by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’ Public Integrity Unit. Judge William Kennedy declared a mistrial on the four remaining perjury counts after the jury said it couldn’t reach a consensus. Castaneda said outside the courtroom that the trial has been “politically devastating to me. I don’t know that it’ll ever get back to where it was. But it’s a good start.” In 2006, the District Attorney’s Office investigated rumors that Castaneda used his council position to receive free rent or the promise of a reduced price on a condo. No evidence of wrongdoing was found, but the prosecutor believed Castaneda lied to obstruct the
investigation.
p-Jury finds Chula Vista councilman not guilty of perjury charges
