Legislative News
Ex-NC House member could go to trial in fall
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The trial of a former North Carolina House member accused of theft and money laundering could begin this fall.U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Howard has ordered a schedule of the legal proceedings involving ex-Rep. Stephen LaRoque. Howard proposes LaRoque's arraignment and trial date could occur as soon as Oct. 9. Howard directed pretrial motions be filed by Sept. 14.
A grand jury indicted the Kinston Republican last month on eight counts. He's accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars loaned to his company through a federal program and giving it to another company he owned for transactions that helped family members.
LaRoque's attorney says his client is innocent.
LaRoque from the House late last month.
