Court Gives Dominelli a New Attorney

Jailed financier J. David (Jerry) Dominelli received a court-appointed attorney Friday and was ordered to return to court March 4 for a preliminary hearing on state charges of conspiracy and perjury.

Dominelli appeared Friday before Municipal Judge Laura Hammes, who granted Robert Grimes, Dominelli’s new attorney, a hearing date of Feb. 26, when he can elect to go through with the preliminary hearing or challenge the grand jury’s indictment.

Dominelli, Mayor Roger Hedgecock, Nancy Hoover and Tom Shepard were indicted on Sept. 19 by a county grand jury. The four were charged with felony conspiracy and perjury for allegedly funneling illegal contributions into Hedgecock’s 1983 mayoral campaign.

Hoover and Shepard are scheduled to have their preliminary hearings with Dominelli. However, Grimes said he may ask that Dominelli’s case be severed from the other two.

Dominelli, 43, suffered a stroke in prison that has caused a speech impediment. Attorneys also question whether he is competent to stand trial in state court and in federal court where he faces numerous charges involving fraud and the collapse of his financial empire.

Hedgecock waived his right to a preliminary hearing to the state charges, stood trial and now is awaiting the jury’s verdict.