Defendants waive preliminary hearing and proceed to trial

REDWOOD CITY — A former Caltrain deputy director and a former Caltrain contractor are facing trial on charges they embezzled taxpayer money to build secret mini-apartments in two Peninsula train stations that they reportedly used as emergency shelters until they were discovered.

Joseph Vincent Navarro, 67, and Seth Andrew Worden, 62, appeared in a San Mateo County courtroom Monday, where they waived preliminary hearings on charges of misuse of public funds.

Navarro and Worden were formally booked by Judge Sean Dabel and ordered to appear in court for a second arraignment on September 10.

At a preliminary hearing or investigation, a judge decides whether there is enough evidence in a criminal case to go to trial. One reason defendants might forgo this hearing is if they expect or admit that a judge will rule against them and want to save themselves the time and expense of going through the process.

Andrew Vandeveld, an attorney representing Navarro, told this news organization that waiving the hearing was “a strategic decision with regard to the trial.”

“We will defend the case vigorously,” Vandeveld said. “We believe that Mr. Navarro did nothing wrong, that the prosecutor exaggerated the case and that (Navarro) acted within the scope of his responsibility.”

Worden's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Navarro, who now lives in Pennsylvania, is free on $25,000 bail, and Worden, who lives in San Diego County, is free on his own recognizance. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.