By Anne Lowe
OPEN COURTS An attorney for former California Highway Patrol officer Ruben Salgado has requested a closed preliminary hearing for his client, who is accused of arranging a murder-for-hire transaction.
Update: See comment below.
Bill Lindelof of the Sacramento Bee reports:
Salgado's attorney Tuesday presented a motion to ban the public, including the news media, from the preliminary hearing. Placer Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Penney said he would take up the matter this morning before the rescheduled preliminary hearing in Roseville.
The motion presented by attorney Daniel A. Nicholson states that an open preliminary hearing with media coverage will preclude Salgado from getting a fair trial in Placer County. Prosecutor Doug Van Breeman said outside the courtroom that he will oppose the motion.
The Sacramento Bee, KXTV, KCRA, and KOVR opposed the motion and it was denied. The defendant then waived his right to a preliminary hearing.