After failing to make a plea Wednesday, April 26, the former SF State official and his alleged accomplice in an ongoing bribery scheme were arraigned today.
Robert Shearer, former SF State director of Environmental Health and Occupational Safety, and Stephen Cheung, Vice President of Chemical HazMat Technology, pleaded not guilty to the 246 felony charges that prosecutors said racked in millions of the University’s money.
Shearer is charged with receiving bribes from Cheung in exchange for a lucrative contract with SF State. Items allegedly used to bribe Shearer include a Volvo, more than 50 flights to and from China and 64 payment checks from 2002 to 2009. Bail remains at $5 million for each individual.
According to Shearer’s newly appointed attorney assigned by the Public Defender’s Office, Deputy Public Defender Stephanie LaCambra, Shearer has “no financial assets to speak of.”
Shearer and Cheung’s next hearing is set for May 9, at 9 a.m. Between now and then copious amounts of evidence need to be sorted through, according to LaCambra.
“There are over 20,000 pages of evidence for this case,” LaCambra said. “I look forward to the opportunity to defend Robert Shearer in this case. “
