One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Bell Mayor Released From Jail Overnight
Hernandez' booking photo (LA Sheriff's Dept.)
The City of Bell's mayor, Oscar Hernandez, was released from Los Angeles County Jail at around 2:30 this morning, reports abc7. Hernandez posted a $250,000 bond in order to be released.Hernandez was among the "Bell 8" arrested on September 21st on charges of corruption.
The current and former city employees have been trickling out of custody as they post bail; one condition, however, is that they must prove funds being used for bail are not any of the funds in question as related to their charges.
Among the eight, former City Manager Robert Rizzo, said to be the ringleader of the corrupt activities, remains in jail. His bail was reduced by a million dollars to $2 million.
The "Bell 8" are slated to be arraigned on October 21st.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
