CHALMETTE, La. (WGNO) — Saint Bernard president Dave Peralta pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon to the 22 criminal counts he faces in the parish. Last month, a grand jury indicted Peralta on stalking, malfeasance in office, obstruction of justice and other charges.
Initially his attorney, Martin Regan, requested a speedy trial which would require Peralta be tried within 180 days. Regan said he wanted to get the trial out of the way before this fall’s elections when Peralta will seek a second term in office as parish president.
But at least two hearing dates are set in the weeks ahead for the judge to consider motions in the case, so Regan said the hopes of getting to trial before the election seemed impossible. In court Wednesday, Regan expressed his intention to withdraw the speedy motion request because it was now mute.
The upcoming hearings will address, in part, another motion from Peralta’s attorney to recuse prosecutors with the state attorney general’s office from the case. Part of Peralta’s defense includes an accusation that the charges are politically motivated. Regan says Attorney General Buddy Caldwell and his son, who is one of the prosecutors handling the Peralta case, are hoping to force the parish president out of office. Previously, Assistant Attorney General David Caldwell had said that his office is only presenting the facts of the case.
Originally, Peralta faced a sexual battery charge in Saint Bernard Parish involving an alleged attack on his now ex-wife. That charge was later dismissed by prosecutors who said they may still bring up that part of the investigation in the future.
Peralta also faces a stalking charge in Saint Tammany Parish. In Baton Rouge, Peralta faces charges stemming from allegations that he used campaign money to gamble at casinos.
Regan insists the charges can be proven false in short order at trial.