Former County Assessor Receives New Charges in Corruption Case

Los Angeles County Assessor John Noguez and his co-defendants were charged Monday with new counts of embezzlement and grand theft today based on based on allegations his office reduced property tax assessments for political donors as far back as 1998.

Noguez, who was elected assessor in 2010, has been on leave since he was arrested Oct. 17, 2012, in in the probe of his office, which included the arrests of appraiser Scott Schenter, chief appraiser Mark McNeil and campaign contributor Ramin Salari.

Noguez's office allegedly reduced property taxes and assessments in Beverly Hills and surrounding areas in exchange for donations to his campaign.

Salari was expected to be arraigned on separate tax evasion charges Monday.

A hearing scheduled for Noguez Monday morning was postponed until Jan. 30.

With the addition of 12 counts of embezzlement and grand theft, Noguez and his co-defendants now face 80 counts related to the case.

Some of the new charges filed today date to 1998, according to the District Attorney's Office.

District Attorney Steve Cooley called in May for Noguez to resign, saying:

"This particular case, what I know about it, strikes me as the largest and most significant public corruption case in terms of county government, very, very significant, very substantial. This is an elected official and this is a serious case involving bribery and corruption."