By Alabama Public Radio
Tuscaloosa, AL – Federal judge U-W- Clemon has thrown out one of the charges against former Governor Don Siegelman and two co-defendants. Siegelman, his former chief of state Paul Hamrick and Tuscaloosa physician Phillip Bobo will no longer face federal theft charges. Clemon says the accusation that the men misapplied 550-thousand dollars in state funds was inappropriate. But the three still will be tried on conspiracy and fraud charges. They're accused rigging bids on state Medicaid contracts. Clemon says the trial for Siegelman and Hamrick will begin October fourth. The judge granted Bobo's request to try him separately at a later date.