Testimony ahead of schedule in Gonzalez-Buttner trial
BRAWLEY — The jury trial for the trial of Annette Gonzalez-Buttner continued Wednesday at the county Superior Courthouse here.
Jury trial began Monday with 28 possible witnesses, and is planned to go until Friday.
However, it may conclude sooner, as Hon. Christopher J. Plourd reported Wednesday that the trial is ahead of schedule, and jury deliberation could begin as early as Friday.
“If not Friday, probably Monday,” Plourd said, “meaning, the jury would be sent out to deliberate starting this Friday, potentially.”
Gonzalez-Buttner is a trustee for both Imperial Valley College and the Imperial County Office of Education.
She is facing four charges — two counts of perjury, one count of grand theft and violation of the State Election Code.
The charges allege that she was untruthful when listing her domicile in her 2017 candidate filings for the position of ICOE trustee.
Gonzalez-Buttner has entered a plea of not guilty for all four charges.
The case is being prosecuted by the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.
County Deputy District Attorney Anthony Valente is prosecuting. Attorney
Jill Cremeans is representing Gonzalez-Buttner.
Opening statements from both sides were delivered on Monday.
Also on Monday, the attorneys cross-examined Gonzalez-Buttner’s father, Juan Manuel Gonzalez-Partida; Debra Porter, retired county elections manager; Josephina G. Morales, a county Elections Department employee for the past 18 years, and Carl Armstrong, supervising investigator for the DA’s Office.
Cross-examination continued Tuesday with witnesses Russell Chuvon, a detective with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office; Ron Austin Macaskill Jr., an inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Ramiro Orejel, an on-site manager for the Calexico Garden Apartments, and county Superintendent of Schools Todd Finnell.
Questioning of Finnell concluded on Wednesday.
The trial will continue at 10:30 a.m. today. Proceedings on Friday are scheduled to being at 9 a.m.