By Vinaya Saksena

PROVIDENCE — The trial of a former Lincoln town administrator accused of bribery will soon be underway, according to the officer of Attorney General Patrick Lynch.

After numerous delays, former Town Administrator Jonathan Oster appears likely to undergo a trial in the near future. Oster’s attorney, C. Leonard O’Brien and Assistant District Attorney William Ferland had previously discussed at length what evidence may or may not be admissible in the case, with O’Brien seeking to have Ferland removed from the prosecution team on the grounds that he intended to call Ferland as a witness in the trial.
However, delays in the legal process appear to be coming to an end. Michael Healey, a spokesman for Lynch, said that the jury selection process for the trial had begun, and that it was hoped the process would be finished by the beginning of next week. At that time, Healey said, O’Brien and the state would be told when they will be allowed to make their opening statements.
Oster was arrested on four counts of bribery and conspiracy following a sting operation involving former planning board member Robert Picerno. Picerno had been indicted for receiving bribes from contractors, according to a previous Times article, and he eventually agreed to participate in a sting operation, in which he would deliver $10,000 to Oster while under surveillance.