Chvala ordered to trial on 19 counts
10:18 AM 2/07/03

State Sen. Chuck Chvala was ordered Friday to stand trial on 19 felony charges after he waived his right to a three-day preliminary hearing that was scheduled to take place next week.

During a five-minute hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Daniel Moeser, the former Senate majority leader said he was foregoing his right to the preliminary hearing, during which prosecutors would have to present enough evidence to establish probable cause that Chvala committed the crimes. They include extortion and misconduct in office.

Appearing with attorney Dixon Gahnz, Chvala seemed to bristle when Moeser suggested that Chvala was probably familiar with the obligatory procedure for waiving a preliminary hearing.

"No your honor, I'm not," Chvala said. "I haven't practiced that much criminal law."

An arraignment, where Chvala will enter a plea to the charges, will be scheduled before the trial judge in Chvala's case, Circuit Judge David Flanagan.

- Ed Treleven