Accused building inspector refuses plea deal

Edward
Marquette, a city buildings inspector charged with falsifying a crane
inspection report days before the crane collapsed at 303 East 51st Street, killing seven
people, refused to agree to a plea deal yesterday. Marquette is charged
with tampering with public records, official misconduct and other
counts, and faces up to 21 years in jail if convicted. The plea bargain
would have reduced his sentence to two to seven years in jail.