Ridley-Thomas was facing prison in a month. Now he’ll remain free while appealing conviction

Former L.A. City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was convicted of bribery, conspiracy and fraud, will be allowed to remain free while pursuing his appeal. In a stipulation filed Thursday, prosecutors wrote that the agreement was done “to expedite the appellate process and obtain a final resolution of this case in a timely manner.” U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who presided over Ridley-Thomas’ trial and sentenced him to prison, approved the agreement late Thursday. Alyssa D. Bell, a member of the defense team, called the move by prosecutors “a positive step forward,” adding, “It is a good day for Dr. Ridley-Thomas.” Paul J. Watford, a former 9th Circuit judge who left the bench after 11 years and now also represents Ridley-Thomas, said, “Bail pending appeal is not the norm, and so the government’s agreement in this case is, in my view, the right thing to do.” Some lawyers who were not involved in the case disputed that the move by prosecutors was unusual, given that Ridley-Thomas was convicted of white-collar crimes, has no criminal history and is not considered a danger to the community or a flight risk. “I think they want to show some good grace to someone that gave his life to the community.” In their motion for bail, defense attorneys had outlined more than a dozen legal issues that they said would be the focal point of Ridley-Thomas’ appeal, including the claim that two Black women were improperly ousted during the jury selection process. At the time, Sebastian Ridley-Thomas had resigned amid a then-confidential sexual harassment inquiry, and prosecutors alleged that the elder Ridley-Thomas wanted USC to provide a “landing spot” that protected the family’s political image.