Mark Ladas
More than a year after the former chief of the Central County Fire Department was arrested for grand theft and tax evasion, a sixth preliminary hearing date has been scheduled for a judge to determine whether there’s enough evidence for his case to proceed to trial.
Mark Ladas is scheduled to return to court April 25 for a lengthy hearing expected to last a day and a half, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Guidotti.
In December 2014, Ladas, 51, pleaded not guilty to 10 felony charges in a case prosecutors say was a “sophisticated” scheme between the former fire chief and his wife Peta, who remains at large. The duo allegedly netted thousands of dollars by using fraudulent credit cards at a fake business controlled by the wife between January 2011 and June 2013.
The case has dragged on with both the defense and prosecution requesting continuances of the preliminary hearings for a variety of reasons ranging from unavailable witnesses to Ladas’ attorney being sick.
Because of the complex nature of the case and an extensive amount of evidence a judge must review, Guidotti said the preliminary hearing is expected to last much longer than other cases typically requiring about 30 minutes to an hour. In part, Guidotti attributed the delay to having to find a judge with a completely clear schedule for nearly two days and the need to re-subpoena witnesses to testify.
His last preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 2 but both sides agreed to postpone the meeting.
Ladas, who reportedly lives in Hillsborough, remains out of custody on $80,000 bail.
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