Witness In Arditti Nepotism Trial Says He Was Involved In Hiring Discussions

A newspaper article’s comment section brought the trial of suspended District Judge Regina Arditti to a brief halt Wednesday afternoon.

Arditti is facing nepotism and bribery charges. She is accused of hiring former Judge Manny Barraza’s sister in exchange for him hiring Arditti’s son.

Defense attorney Theresa Caballero brought a a comment posted below an El Paso Times article to the judge’s attention in the afternoon.

The comment reads, “My girlfriend is on the jury panel and she has told me that a few of them have already decided they will find her guilty.”

Visiting Judge Steve Smith immediately called the jury in and asked them one by one if they had contacted someone about the case. Every juror denied responsibility for the post.

The first witness on the stand on Wednesday was local attorney David Biagas.

Biagas said he was set to take over Barraza’s private law firm when Barazza was elected judge.

Biagas said he was involved in more than than 20 conversations about the alleged deal. Biagas described the alleged hiring deal between Arditti and Barazza as a “quid pro quo, a trade off.”

But under cross-examination, Biagas admitted he initially denied knowing anything.

Biagas said he told authorities, “I don’t know about anything about nepotism. I haven’t heard anything.”

Arditti’s defense attorney responded by asking, “If you made that statement, were you lying?”

Biagas responded to that question with, “Yes.”

Biagas said he lied after his attorney advised him not to talk to anybody about what he knew, including his own wife.

Biagas also admitted he was reprimanded several times by Arditti for his involvement with exotic dancers.

“You got into trouble for taking a dancer to your office and getting lap dances. Do you agree with that your conduct with an (exotic dancer) is a potential crime?” Arditti’s attorney, Theresa Caballero asked Biagas.

Biagas responded that yes, he was reprimanded for that.

The latest witness, court coordinator Veronica Maynez, had a testy exchange with defense attorney, Stuart Leeds.

“Do you have an agenda? Are you out to get Judge Arditti? Do you have an axe to grind?” Leeds asked.

Maynez responded, “Absolutely not!”

Maynez also testified she was offered a job in Arditti’s court multiple times.

That position eventually went to Sally Mena, Barraza’s sister.

Even though Biagas made no deal with state authorities, he told the jury he entered into a federal agreement.

In exchange for his testimony in Barraza’s federal trial, he avoided indictment.