Jury begins deliberations in Nutting case
By Brad Branan, Sacramento Bee
Jurors this afternoon began deliberating the fate of El Dorado County Supervisor Ray Nutting in a case that could end his political career after four terms in office.
Attorneys representing Nutting and the El Dorado District Attorney’s Office made closing arguments earlier today in a case involving alleged misrepresentation of grants Nutting received from CalFire. Jurors are set to return Tuesday at 8:30am.
Nutting faces four felonies and seven misdemeanors. The felony charges are related to economic disclosure reports Nutting submitted without describing the Cal Fire grants and his approval of budgets for two small fire districts that had board members who signed the grant checks.
If convicted of any of the felony counts, Nutting would have to resign his supervisor seat under state law.
Is a “mistake of law” or “ignorance of the law” a defense against Felony and Misdemeanor charges? El Dorado County Supervisor, Ray Nutting, seems to think so.
I guess that depends upon your socioeconomic class.