The arraignment of eight defendants indicted in San Bernardino County's bail-bond investigation, which includes a son of former Sheriff Floyd Tidwell, was expected to be postponed this afternoon because a defense lawyer was recovering from surgery, prosecutors said.
The defendants have yet to enter a plea on an ammended indictment filed by Deputy District Attorney William Lee, which was originally issued by a special criminal grand jury in December.
The defendants are accused of participating in a scheme using jail inmates to help corner the county's market on bail bonds from 2001 to 2003, according to court records.
Lee confirmed today's hearing in San Bernardino Superior Court would be postponed.
The indictment names Danial Tidwell, 53, a son of the former sheriff; and his wife, Shirley Tidwell, 47. It also names Michael Steele, 50, Keith Widener, 41, Kirk Widener, 37, Samantha Widener, 38, Randy Ideshi, 43, and Jerry Christian, 49.
The grand jury issued the indictment after the criminal complaint filed in 2004 by the District Attorney's Office "got stuck in the system," Lee said earlier.
Tidwell and others who worked for Boone's Bail Bond were arrested in 2004 after a two-year investigation by the Sheriff's Department. Authorities said evidence indicated they were paying inmates for soliciting business for the bail bond company.
All of the defendants have been charged with two counts of conspiracy relating to unlawful solicitation of bail bonds and one count of unlawful solicitation of bail bonds.
Danial Tidwell also was indicted on two counts of possessing assault weapons, one count of receiving stolen property and one count of grand theft of a firearm.
Shirley Tidwell and two Boone's employees were indicted on several counts relating to unlawful notary practices, filing false or forged documents and perjury.
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