By Robert Haugh

Santa Clara City Councilmember Anthony Becker is back in court today after successfully delaying his trial numerous times.

Becker was indicted on April 14, 2023 – 489 days ago – for leaking a Grand Jury Report to the 49ers and lying about it.

Even though he was asked to resign after his indictment, Becker remained on the Council and voted numerous times to help the 49ers, according to the Civil Grand Jury, and cost residents millions of dollars.

The numerous trial delays have raised questions about Becker receiving special treatment.

A new judge has been assigned to Becker’s trial, Panteha Saban.

According to sources following the trial, Judge Saban will need to decide some motions in the morning. Then, jury selection may start.

Becker’s defense team includes Deputy Public Defender Chris Montoya, and private attorneys Grant Fondo and Hayes Hyde. They’re both partners at a major law firm, Goodwin Proctor. 

Becker having both a Public Defender and private attorneys working for him pro bono has raised questions.

According to former FPPC Chair Ann Ravel, the pro bono arrangement violates state political gift laws.

Since Fondo and Hyde joined Becker’s team, the defense has been active in requesting documents from approximately two dozen different sources.  

Some attorneys have called it a fishing expedition for “political opposition research.”

Multiple investigators have been working on the defense team, too. They have visited the work site and homes of some individuals who were not subpoenaed. Two sources have told Santa Clara News Online (SCNO) that they felt harassed.

Assistant Public Defender Charlie Hendrickson is responsible for the program that recruits private law firms to work pro bono on cases with the Public Defender’s Office. 

He told SCNO that he recruited Fondo to help Becker, although Montoya’s court filings say that Becker requested Fondo.

Hendrickson would not respond to multiple requests about how many attorneys and investigators are working on the Becker defense team.

Unless there’s another delay, Becker’s trial should be completed this month, according to sources.

If Becker is convicted, he faces up to four years in prison for felony perjury. He will also have to immediately step down from his Council seat.