Conn. court to hear convicted ex-mayor's appeal

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut's second-highest court will hear arguments in the case of former Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez who's appealing his five corruption convictions.

The hearing before the state Appellate Court is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday. Perez's arguments include insufficient evidence and mistakes made by the trial court judge.

Perez, Hartford's first Hispanic mayor, was convicted in 2010 of receiving a bribe from a city contractor in the form of home improvements and trying to extort a $100,000 payment from a developer. Authorities say Perez paid $20,000 for $40,000 worth of home improvements, but only after he was questioned by a grand jury.

The Democrat was sentenced to three years in prison but has remained free on an appeal bond.