[StBernard] Contempt charges dropped against St. Bernard Parish president for now

[Westley Annis]

Contempt charges dropped against St. Bernard Parish president for now

 wwltv.com

 Posted on August 4, 2014 at 8:26 AM

 Updated today at 5:33 PM

 WWLTV.com

 Email: webteam at wwltv.com | Twitter: @WWLTV

 St. Bernard Parish President David Peralta spent the morning at the St.
Bernard Parish Courthouse for two appearances and hearings related to
charges brought against him by his ex-wife, and for now, she has dropped
contempt charges against the parish president.

 In the first hearing, Peralta asked for the return of computers, cell
phones and documents seized a week ago by investigators for the State
Attorney General's Office.

 Attorneys for Peralta said the items were needed by the parish in order for
the parish to complete their daily business activities, and that some
information on the items was protected by attorney-client privilege and
should be returned for use by the parish.

 State lawyers said the computers were being copied so they could be
returned and the judge admonished them not to look at any material that is
protected by attorney-client privilege in the copying process.

 In the second hearing, Peralta's ex-wife, Sharon Schaefer, filed contempt
of court charges, accusing Peralta of emailing her in violation of a
restraining order.

 However, Monday, her new attorney Stephen Rue, asked that that motion be
dismissed - but only for the time being.

 Rue also said that Sharon Schaefer was sick and could not attend court
Monday but that there would be more hearings to come in regard to the parish
president.