Local News in Brief : Conflict Charge Dropped

A judge has dismissed conflict-of-interest charges against former Downey Councilman James S. Santangelo, who agreed to pay $9,762 for the cost of the district attorney’s investigation.

Municipal Judge Mario Barsotti, who dismissed the charges Monday, had presided over an earlier trial that ended with a jury deadlocked 11 to 1 for conviction. Santangelo was defeated in the June municipal election by Barbara J. Hayden, a Downey planning commissioner.

“There was nothing left to be gained from a retrial,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Herbert Lapin. “The voters had spoken. We sent a message to officials we will prosecute” violations of conflict-of-interest laws.

Santangelo, 53, had been charged with misdemeanor conflict of interest in connection with his 1984 vote to expand Downey’s redevelopment district. He owned property in the expansion area. The expansion was invalidated in 1985 in Superior Court after a group of property owners filed suit, challenging Santangelo’s right to vote.

Lapin said Santangelo “was not a criminal in the sense we would think of a criminal. . . . He did not profit from (the vote).”

Santangelo said he was “very pleased that the case was dismissed.”