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Jun. 18, 2025

Palm Springs developer acquitted in long-running bribery case

Prosecutors alleged John Wessman paid Mayor Steve Pougnet more than $200,000 between 2012 and 2014 to influence municipal decisions on development projects.

A Riverside County jury on Monday acquitted a Palm Springs developer of all bribery and conspiracy charges, rejecting allegations that he paid the city's former mayor more than $200,000 to secure support for high-profile downtown redevelopment projects.

"John Wessman has maintained his innocence for eight years and today's verdict validates our position that there was no bribery, no conspiracy, and no undue influence exerted related to this project. The evidence simpl...

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