Jury selection rescheduled in Marchan trial
The trial of Ray R. Marchan, charged in the federal case against former 404th District Judge Abel C. Limas, has been delayed because his attorneys need more time to prepare his defense, federal court records show.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen on Tuesday rescheduled jury selection for March 29. It had been set for Thursday.
Marchan, 54, of Port Isabel, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, aiding and abetting extortion, and aiding and abetting wire fraud.
The federal court record shows that prosecutors allege that Marchan made several payments to Limas from January 2008 through December 2008 totaling $11,200.
Of this amount, prosecutors allege, $5,000 was for favorable court decisions and $6,200 in return for appointments as attorney ad litem. Limas has pleaded guilty to racketeering and awaits sentencing.
Marchan’s attorneys Noe D. Garza Jr. and Adela Kowalski-Garza noted in a court document that the defense has been allowed to take a laptop computer to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in order to take notes and review evidence against their client.
The defense also has been allowed to tape-record the evidence.
But attorneys said the volume of evidence is such that more time is needed to prepare Marchan’s defense, and the judge granted their request for a delay in jury selection.
Court records indicate that the evidence includes recorded telephone conversations, surveillance photos, and bank records.
Marchan, who has been practicing law for 28 years, continues free on an unsecured $100,000 bond.
