Officials in CA sent to trial in corruption case

March 10, 2011 at 2:18p.m.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former city manager accused of masterminding a scam to bilk the blue-collar Los Angeles suburb of Bell out of more than $5.5 million has been ordered to stand trial.

Superior Court Judge Henry J. Hall ruled today that former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo will be tried on more than 50 counts of misappropriation of public funds, conflict of interest and falsification of public records.

Rizzo’s former assistant, Angela Spaccia, now-recalled Mayor Oscar Hernandez and former City Councilman Luis Artiga were also ordered to trial.

Hall’s ruling came two days after angry Bell residents went to the polls to vote in a new City Council.