Da Won't File Charges Against La Puente Officials

Summary

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Prosecutors will not file criminal charges against a La Puente councilman and a planning commissioner who were investigated on allegations of laundering campaign funds.The District Attorney's Public Integrity Division says it has no credible witnesses to prove a case against Planning Commissioner Charles Klinakis and Councilman Dan Holloway.The decision brings an end to the two-year investigation into the allegations.The District Attorney's Office received a complaint in October 2007 alleging Klinakis and Holloway conspired with Rolando Valera, a Baldwin Park print shop owner, to hide a $3,500 donation Klinakis made to Holloway's campaign.The complaint alleged Klinakis paid for $3,500 worth of campaign mailers Valera made for Holloway. Holloway, meanwhile, reported the mailers as a donation from Valera's Colourgraphix print shop without mentioning the Klinakis contribution, according to the complaint.According to a District Attorney's memo made public on Wednesday, prosecutors believe they would be unable to prove a case against Klinakis and Holloway in court because any testimony about their alleged scheme would have to come from the participants themselves.In order to compel any of them to testify against the others, prosecutors would likely have to offer immunity as a shield against self-incrimination, according to the memo. Jurors are often reluctant to convict a suspect based solely on such testimony, prosecutors concluded.In addition, Valera may not have appeared to be a credible witness because he has pending charges in an unrelated case alleging he attempted to bribe to Irwindale city councilmen, prosecutors say in the memo.Klinakis has previously denied wrongdoing and said the allegations were politically motivated.

Reached Wednesday, he refused to address the allegations.

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Da Won't File Charges Against La Puente Officials

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