Corruption Probe Arraignment Postponed to July

Attorneys for four men charged in connection with a county corruption case involving the Colonies Crossroads shopping center were granted three weeks to review a grand jury transcript.

The attorneys asked Judge Brian McCarville to keep the document sealed while they reviewed the large transcript. The judge also postponed the arraignment to July 1.

Jeff Burum, 48, a general partner with Colonies Partners, L.P.; Paul Biane, 47, former San Bernardino County Supervisor; Jim Erwin, 48, former chief of staff to Neil Derry; and Mark Kirk, 36, chief of staff to Supervisor Gary Ovitt, have been implicated in a $102 million bribery scheme.

All were indicted by a San Bernardino County Grand Jury on 29 counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, misappropriation of public funds, improper influence and conflict of interest, according to the California Attorney General’s office.