ORANGE COUNTY

Ferrante Associates Win New Trials: Two business associates of Robert A. Ferrante, the former owner of now-defunct Consolidated Savings Bank, have been granted new federal trials on fraud and conspiracy charges. U.S. District Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer granted defense motions for new trials for Raymond L. Arthun and Ottavio A. Angotti because neither the court nor federal prosecutors followed proper procedures in obtaining their waivers of a jury trial. An angry Pfaelzer, who had convicted the two men in September while acquitting Ferrante and three others, also removed herself from the case. Chief Judge Manuel L. Real will preside over a new trial. No date for the trial has been set yet.