
By BEN NUCKOLS Associated Press Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon now must prepare for the possibility of two separate criminal trials.
Dixon's lawyers decided Wednesday to try the two indictments against her separately. The Democratic mayor faces charges including theft for allegedly stealing gift cards intended for needy families. She'll go to trial on those charges in six weeks.
But her lawyers elected to delay trial on two counts of perjury. In that indictment, Dixon is accused of lying about gifts from her former boyfriend, a real estate developer. Her attorneys are trying to have those charges thrown out. They argued Wednesday that prosecutors improperly used Dixon's legislative acts as evidence against her. But prosecutors say evidence of meetings Dixon attended is not protected by legislative immunity.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Virginia's attorney general Ken Cuccinelli will face former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe in November to become Virginia's 72nd governor.

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.