Former El Cajon city councilman, Ben Kalasho and his pregnant wife, Jessica, have been ordered to serve jail time for contempt of court, following multiple missed appearances concerning accusations of fraud and defamation, according to ABC 10 News.
The couple's attempt to push back their jail time for contempt of court until 2024 was denied, despite obtaining a note from a nurse claiming that Jessica's high-risk pregnancy warranted avoiding travel. The judge remained unswayed on Thursday morning, pointing out recent evidence of her travel to two weddings and another celebration in San Diego, as detailed by the San Diego Union-Tribune.
After a series of scandals including fraud and defaming allegations which led to Ben Kalasho's resignation from the city council in March 2019, a civil case emerged. The situation dates back to 2017, when Team 10 reported accusations against the couple of fraud and defamation against an El Cajon pageant winner, involving the creation of an Instagram account wherein the beauty queen's face was pasted onto the naked bodies of other women. Additionally, they were accused of defaming a local taco shop through a fake poll about its food. The civil case was then ongoing for years, during which the Kalashos moved to North Carolina.
Fast forward to 2023, the couple was found in contempt of court in May for missing multiple court dates. As a result, they were sentenced to eight days behind bars and were fined. Although they were initially due to report to jail on August 18th, the Kalashos filed a motion to push the date back, with their request ultimately denied, and are now scheduled to serve their time starting September 1st, as reported by ABC 10 News.
During Thursday's hearing, attorney Kevin Lemieux maintained that Jessica Kalasho's pregnancy deemed travel from their home in North Carolina until after the November delivery inadvisable, as a nurse suggested. Lemieux also argued that additional time was needed to prepare an appeal of the jail term issued last month. However, plaintiff Lina Charry contested the delay, pointing out the Kalashos' recent travels to San Diego to attend social events, as mentioned by the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Charry further stated that an appeal could have been sought weeks ago, and emphasized the couple had more than a month to file. The judge, Kenneth Medel, dismissed the request, citing the case's protracted nature and the Kalashos' unrebutted travels to San Diego in June and July to attend various parties.
