RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Prosecutors are skipping a long-delayed preliminary and have obtained a criminal indictment against the former mayor of Palm Springs and two local developers.

It’s an outgrowth of a public corruption case involving about $375,000 in bribes paid to the former mayor Steve Pougnet.

Also charged are developers Richard Hugh Meaney and John Elroy Wessman.

District Attorney Mike Hestrin said an indictment would be best to move the case forward toward seeking justice for the community of Palm Springs.

Story Date: August 20, 2019