Perez guilty on 5 of 6 charges

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez was found guilty Friday on five of six counts in his corruption trial. Medics were called to care for his wife, who was overcome by emotions in court.

The Mayor says he will appeal and will relinquish his duties of Mayor during the process.

The jury found that Mayor Perez accepted a bribe in the form of $40,000 home improvements to protect a city contractor, Carlos Costa, who was in danger of being fired by the public works department. He also tried to extort $100,000 cash from a developer to help win the favor of North End political broker, Abe Giles.

Mayor Perez, a Democrat, was convicted of:

• Larceny in the First Degree by Extortion,
• Criminal Attempt to Commit Larceny in the First Degree by Extortion
• Bribe Receiving
• Conspiracy to Commit Fabrication of Evidence
• Accessory to Fabrication of Physical Evidence

He was found not guilty on the count of fabricating evidence.

Medics were called to the court to assist Mayor Perez's wife, Maria Perez, who began sobbing after the verdict was read. She appeared to be overcome by grief and shock. Perez himself did not visibly react after the verdict came down.

Sentencing is set for September 10. He faces up to 60 years in prison.

An appeal is likely.

Mayor Perez was elected in 2001, becoming Hartford's first Latino mayor. News 8 asked Mayor Perez as he left the courtroom if he would be resigning and he said, "We will make an announcement next week."

"Mayor Perez, his family and his attorneys will make statements as they digest the verdict and explore their options," Perez's spokeswoman, Sarah Barr, said in an e-mail to the news media. "We need to be considerate of this time."

Hartford City Council released this statement regarding Perez's guilty verdict: "Today is a difficult day for our city, its residents and those who care deeply about Hartford. In response to the decision of the jury this morning, the City Council is mindful that we must make decisions that are in the best interest of the residents of Hartford. Early next week, the City Council is prepared to take action, if necessary, to move Hartford forward."

Councilman Kenneth Kennedy tells News 8 "this is a very sad day for the city of Hartford.  I just feel very bad for the mayor's family right now."

"Here at City Hall, the work continues," said David Panagore, COO/Director of Development Services, in the e-mail sent by Barr. "The business of serving the residents of Hartford goes on."