Bloomfield councilman's trial for alleged bribery set for May 16

Bloomfield Councilman Elias Chalet’s trial for alleged bribery is set for Tuesday, May 16.

On Wednesday, before Essex County Superior Court Judge Martin Cronin, the defendant turned down a state plea offer of a seven-year sentence, with parole eligibility after three years.

“This is the last day to accept that offer,” Cronin told Chalet.

INDICTMENT: Bloomfield councilman charged with bribery, tampering, hindering

CONTROVERSY: Protests keep up amid bribery, assault allegations

The First Ward councilman is accused of promising a business owner that he would use his position to ensure the township purchased the man’s commercial property. Chalet was arrested on Nov. 16, 2015, following an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption North Unit and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.

On Jan. 29, 2016, he was indicted on charges of second-degree official misconduct, second-degree bribery in official or political matters, second-degree acceptance or receipt of unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior, fourth-degree tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and fourth-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution.

Chalet pleaded not guilty to all charges on June 8, 2016.

Trial prep

Deputy Attorney General Brian Faulk told Judge Cronin he intends to call as witnesses a confidential informant and New Jersey State troopers involved in the investigation.

“We’ve argued vigorously [against charges of] misconduct and bribery,” Chalet’s attorney, Peter Till, told the judge.

The defense attorney said that he will request witnesses who would testify there was no official action on the property. Those witnesses could include fellow council members, he said.

“You can’t have a bribe without any official action,” Till contended after the proceeding.

The parties also agreed to a pretrial review of any audio and video evidence for its intelligibility.

Email: proctor@northjersey.com