NPT: Sal Mena Negotiating Plea Deal
EL PASO, Texas — Sal Mena,a former El Paso ISD board member who was indicted on public corruption charges,is negotiating a plea deal with the government, Newspaper Tree reports.
Judge Frank Montalvo said at a hearing Wednesday morning that Mena has until Dec. 22 to reach a plea deal; if no agreement is reached, the judge will set a trial date.
According to Newspaper Tree, Mena did not attend the hearing. His lawyer Mike Torres appeared in court on his behalf. Debra Kanof, the prosecutor for the public corruption cases, said that the parties had started negotiating.
Mena is free on bond on an eight-count indictment that was re-issued by a grand jury two months ago.
Mena was arrested Aug. 29 and charged with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, deprivation of right to honest services and making false statements to obtain credit.
