GOLDEN — Former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall has arrived for today’s scheduled start of his trial of charges related to an alleged kickback plan.
Paschall was indicted in January 2007 on two felonies — attempted felony theft and compensation for past official behavior. He is accused of offering a former top aide a $25,000 bonus and demanding that she pay him $9,000 out of post-tax proceeds.
If convicted, Paschall could face 1 to 3 years in prison on the theft count and 18 months on the compensation count.
The conservative Republican and former state legislator sought a second 4-year term as treasurer in 2006 but lost in the primary to former county clerk Faye Griffin.
The allegations date to the end of 2006.
Potential jurors have been given questionnaires to fill out at the request of Paschall’s attorney, David Lane, to see whether there needs to be a change in venue.
From the initial pool of 79 people, 15 were excluded for cause, including some who were in law enforcement and others who had already formed an opinion.
Lane renewed his motion for change of venue based on the fact that “half the people have expressed knowledge of the case, and many of them have expressed bias.”
Prosecutor Tom Jackson said, “Just knowing something about it isn’t grounds for excluding someone from the pool.”
Judge Randall Arp said there were several potential jurors he wanted to question further based on their questionnaires. He set aside Lane’s motion depending on how those people answer his questions.
The trial is scheduled to last four days; opening arguments are expected this afternoon.
