He Shoulda Jumped

Posted on Sat, Mar. 18, 2006
JURY: MARIANO'S CORRUPT
GUILTY ON 18 COUNTS, POL IS DENIED BAIL AND LED OFF IN HANDCUFFS
By CHRIS BRENNAN & MICHAEL HINKELMAN
brennac@phillynews.com 215-854-5973

CITY COUNCILMAN Rick Mariano, preparing to enter a federal courtroom yesterday to hear the verdict in his corruption trial, offered this prediction with a smile: "Innocent, as always."

The jury disagreed, convicting Mariano on 18 counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, money laundering, bribery and filing a false tax return. He faces a maximum of close to 10 years in prison. He was cleared on four counts of mail or wire fraud.

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Stengel shot down a government request earlier in the case to have Mariano evaluated by a psychiatrist after an October incident in City Hall, just days before he was indicted with his friends.

Mariano had to be talked down from the City Hall tower by Street that day and then spent a weekend in a psychiatric ward. He later said he was just taking pictures with a new camera.

(snip)

Tinari later said he would provide Stengel with information about the October incident, including "what motivated it and whether it has anything to do with his state of mind."