New trial for Puertollano set

WASHINGTON – The case of Assistant Solicitor General Derek Puertollano, who was originally charged with intent to sexually abuse a minor, has been completely revised in the District Court of Appeals here and a new trial date set.

At a hearing last week, an additional charge of lewd, indecent or obscene acts was filed against him and his court-appointed lawyer and the judge presiding over the case were replaced because of scheduling conflicts.

Puertollano was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy last November while attending a seminar on international arbitration in Washington.

At an initial status hearing before District Court Judge William Jackson, he waived his right to a jury trial and requested he be tried by a judge. He was assigned court-appointed public defender Charles Murdter.

A DC Courts online website has identified his new lawyer as Nathaniel Mensah and the new judge as Frederick Weisberg.

A new trial date of May 23 has been set and the prosecution given until March 1 to file its motions. The defense has until March 15 to respond.

Puertollano has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is out on personal recognizance bond. He is being monitored by pretrial services, which require curfews, random drug testing and occasional “check-ins” to ensure he hasn’t left the area.

His passport has been confiscated and he has been ordered not to leave or attempt to leave the United States.