Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/24/2012 06:06:49 PM PST
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are awaiting a decision by the state Supreme Court that will ultimately determine the trajectory of a San Bernardino County corruption case authorities have called the biggest in county history.
As they wait, observers and prosecutors say the case’s trajectory – and the aggressiveness of future public corruption cases – could hinge on the fate of bribery accusations prosecutors are trying to reinstate against a high-profile Rancho Cucamonga developer.
Should the state’s highest court decide to review the 4th District Court of Appeal’s Oct. 31 ruling, it would be deciding if five bribery charges and a public officer crime charge should be reinstated against Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum.
If the Supreme Court rejects the request by prosecutors, the criminal case, which has remained in limbo for the last 14 months during the appeals process, will commence as it now stands.
“All of this pretrial scrimmaging is as important as the trial itself because, as you can see with Mr. Burum, it will define what this case will be,” said Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson.
Leverage may be one reason prosecutors are fighting so hard to resurrect the bribery charges against Burum, Levenson said.
But even if prosecutors get what they ask for, the strategy could backfire, she said.
“They want a bigger hammer to use against Burum, maybe to force him into a deal and to get the attention of the other defendants, but for the same problems the judge had with the bribery charges, a jury may have as well,” Levenson said.
Burum and three former county officials stand accused of conspiring to secure a landmark $102 million legal settlement for Burum’s investor group, Colonies Partners LP, in November 2006 in exchange for bribes. Also charged are former county Supervisor Paul Biane, former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin, and Mark Kirk, former chief of staff for Supervisor Gary Ovitt.
All four defendants deny any wrongdoing.
The landmark legal settlement ended nearly four years of contentious legal battle between Colonies Partners and the county over who was responsible for flood control improvements at a 432-acre residential and commercial development in Upland that was bankrolled by Colonies Partners, in which Burum was a co-managing partner.
Prosecutors appealed an Aug. 19, 2011, ruling by San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Brian McCarville, who dropped five of seven felony charges against Burum, four of them bribery charges, after determining prosecutors applied inappropriate statues in charging him. McCarville also dropped one public officer crime charge against Burum, Biane, Erwin and Kirk.
On appeal, the 4th District Court of Appeal in Riverside affirmed McCarville’s ruling on the bribery charges levelled against Burum but reinstated a charge of misappropriation of public funds against Biane, Erwin and Kirk that McCarville initially dropped.
In addition, the appellate justices found that McCarville erred by not dropping a conflict-of-interest charge against Burum and Erwin, as well as two bribery charges levelled against Erwin.
Bribery laws
In its petition to the Supreme Court, the state Attorney General’s Office, which is jointly prosecuting the Colonies case with the District Attorney’s Office, argues that California’s bribery laws have not evolved with national legal standards and conflict with other court decisions.
To read entire story, click here.
According to the article, a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office declined to comment, stating that “While we appreciate the opportunity to comment and respect your ethical duty to be fair and balanced, please understand that it would be inappropriate for us to comment on a pending case.”
My feelings are as follows:
1) Prosecutors who previously held ostentatious press conferences about the case now feel that it would be “inappropriate” for them “to comment on a pending case.”
2) Why is Mike Ramos, who grandstanded heavily at those press conferences, now using a “spokesman?”
3) Now that the Sun and Daily Bulletin understand their “ethical duty to be fair and balanced,” will stories on The Colonies prosecution be “fair and balanced?”
According to the article, Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson feels that a rejection by the Supreme Court could be a “blessing in disguise” for prosecutors.
I guess that will give rise to a new strategy for selective and politically motivated prosecutions at the DA’s office:
1) File “Kitchen Sink” prosecutions, overcharging the defendant like crazy.
2) Bask in the spotlight at a press conference announcing the charges.
3) When various charges that never should have been filed are dismissed by the Superior Court, appeal the rulings to the Appellate Court and then the Supreme Court, delaying everything for months / years.
4) Sit back and enjoy the local media’s slanted and misleading stories about the prosecution.
5) Tell the taxpayers who are funding the prosecution that you cannot disclose how much of their money you have spent, since doing so might give the defendants insight into your strategy.
6) If the Supreme Court sustains the Superior Court and Appellate Court rulings, recognize that it is a “blessing in disguise.”
And a Merry Christmas to Joe Nelson and his editors too, may the spirit of Christmas eventually find your hearts.
“Mandel further stated that the state’s bribery law has not been meaningfully considered in more than 50 years, and that “another half century may pass before the opportunity to do so arises again.”
Maybe this law has not been considered for more than 50 years because the ABUSE IN MISUSING IT and APPLYING IT is very great and it is already brilliantly written to avoid such misuse…
Isolated incidents pop up, vary, and Mandel needs to work within those written laws… as ALL prosecutors do, if current laws DO NOT APPLY to those Ramos wants vengeance on, then THEY DO NOT APPLY!
Jerry Brown bend over for Ramos, the courts and judges are a whole separate game!
Great timing Joe… thanks for giving us another Merry Colonies Settlement “wrap-up” for Christmas, for DA Mikey’s taxpayer-blessed politically-motivated prosecution, and continued liability indemnity for all the conspirators via legal services fraud, in the upcoming New Year!
The San Bernardino Sun, or more appropriately, The Moon, really sux, and Joe, so do u… Merry Xmas from the masses (not).
>>>>>Merry Christmas and Happy New year to everybody else though!<<<<<<
Smell something like deja vu in 2013… what happened to that big new office building Joe? Now you're back next to BK City Hall in the Towers? Is the Sun setting and BK too Joe and this is going to be your last year, or the Moon about to be eclipsed? U newspaper guys really are from THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, and you like to keep the public just as informed.
Your "readers" are getting restless and tired of the same old mainstream media BS (better make a resolution, and quick!)
When a wealthy and active developer like Burum gives a public official a Rolex watch, there is a problem–even when the public official recipient alleges it did not buy his influence. When public officials go on paid jet trip to play golf, there is a problem.
It’s epitome of a corruption.
Anonymous #6:
1) Was Jim Erwin a “public official” when he went on the NY trip with Jeff Burum and received the watch? I do not believe that he was. Please check the facts, not the local media’s misleading stories.
2) When did “public officials go on a paid jet trip to play golf?”
3) When a district attorney charges a political enemy with felonies for actions that are far less severe than those that he himself was only fined for, “there is a problem.”
#6, Thank you for your right on comment.
@LSW, Easy! Too much Rum or Eggnogg this Christmas? In case you didn’t get the memo, no more unfair attacks on Nelson. And if the sun is setting down, its on the East Side Redlands Gang
@#6 Burum is but a small fish in the pond, being made an example of to take the ATTENTION OFF of the REAL SHARKS ON THE OLD EAST SIDE.
@Fed Up, so why are you not FED UP with the EAST SIDE REDLANDS GANG…where money buys influence and “Rolex watches” are as disposable as paper plates?
Thanks to James Ramos’ victory, Mr. John Mier was SMOKED OUT, and by his own hand no less. Disturbingly comical!
I was totally ignorant of this East Sider; John Mier.
But his inpatient and foolish eagerness to apply his NEWLY acquired power and influence- via James Ramos’ victory- by writing that “unsigned” notorious letter – has served to not only SMOKE him out, but ALSO smoke out more of the EAST SIDE REDLANDS GANG!
Anonymous #6:
After Anonymous #8 thanked you for “your right on comment,” I re-read it to see what I had missed.
After closer scrutiny, I must say that it seems to be carefully written to satisfy the goal of bashing Jeff Burum, but without specifically accusing him of doing anything inappropriate. Joe Nelson would be proud.
For the record, I agree that it would have been inappropriate for Mr. Burum to give a public official a Rolex watch if any subsequent interaction was foreseeable.
For example, if the approval of The Colonies project was scheduled to be heard at a City of Upland Planning Commission meeting and prior to the meeting Jeff Burum gave one of the Planning Commissioners a Rolex watch, that would have been totally inappropriate.
Conversely, how it is inappropriate if he gave a former employee a Rolex watch as a reward for excellent job performance, and that employee later became a public official?
As to your claim that “public officials go on a paid jet trip to play golf,” the comment clearly implies that Mr. Burum took “public officials” on a “paid jet trip to play golf.” Please cite any specific examples.
@#10,
Your defiance against the latest memo is funny, “Joe Nelson would be proud.” LOL!
You bring up a good point when you repeatedly ask…”cite any specific examples”.
Other than MATT BROWN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIKE RAMOS MUST ALSO BE DEPOSED!
Fedup:
You are still upset with the Colonies because you opposed their original approvals in Upland and now you make up stories about them and root for their demise because you are bitter that they could build houses and a shopping center in an area you claimed could not be built on. Let it go and move on with your life. Our Valley will not heal until the bitterness of the past is forgotten and truth and virtue is aloud to prevail. Happy Holidays.
FedUp parrots Upland’s water czar Ken Willis.
If all the charges are dropped then I believe Rex Guterriez has every right in the world to sue the pants off the county for loss wages, pain and suffering, damages, etc. What say the readers of this website?
@Amazed: Uh, Gutierrez was convicted. You understand the meaning of the word “convicted,” right? What happens to the other four Colonies Crooks is contingent upon a jury as well. And to answer your question, no, Gutierrez cannot sue the county, even if the clouds part, trumpets sound and a miracle like all charges being dropped against the Colonies crooks occurs, which it won’t – not in a million years. They got about all they’re going to get out of this one. The rest will be up to a jury. That is my humble legal opinion, and the law is what I do. So there you go!
@Observer of Facts and Little Stevie Wonder: I always get a kick that whenever I visit this site, which is seldom, I see the same two or three Colonies cheerleaders in the reader comment thread standing up for Colonies and giving The Sun grief for reporting the news. Guess it’s not surprising considering this is Jim Erwin’s site, but it is annoying. But hey, the 1st Amendment is what makes America great.
But just to add my two cents, just because Joe Nelson sees this as a legitimate news story of substantial public interest, which he should given the amount of taxpayer money poured into this case by prosecutors and the extensive publicity surrounding it, I find it amusing that you Colonies cheerleaders (likely paid Webtroopers who hide behind the cloak of anonymity, with the exception of Steven Rogers, aka Little Stevie Wonder, who’s dumb enough not to cover his own tracks) are so juvenile as to resort to something as immature as cyberbullying, which I thought was relegated to teen-age girls and boys. Grow up! If you’re gong to make continued attacks on Nelson and accuse him of biased reporting, at least state some facts to back it up. After all, at least Nelson does that in his stories, from what I’ve seen, and I’ve followed most of what he’s done in the last three years, and I have to tell you, I think it’s been pretty good coverage over all. In fact, I think he could be doing a hell of a lot more, not less.
And to Steven Rogers, aka Little Stevie Wonder, you mix your metaphors as badly as you do your clothing. Trust me, you are not clever or witty by any stretch. You just sound completely idiotic and childish. I don’t have to tell you this, I’m sure you’ve been told that before. And BTW, I had a chance to check out the video of the last Board of Supervisors meeting. I got a kick out of how Josie Gonzales spanked you like a little bitch when you started droning on about corruption in your typical ignorant and idiotic way, with absolutely no facts to back what you say. You just stood there, wide-eyed and silent, after she stopped you in your tracks – like a deer in the headlights – not knowing what to do, standing there in your ridiculous signature black vest and horribly mismatched clothing, like someone at Goodwill dressed you. And you expect people to take you seriously? You’re just a loudmouth with too much time on his hands looking for a place to fit in in this world. There you are in a nutshell. Next time my psychoanalysis will cost you.
Oh, and lastly to Stevie Boy and Observer of the Farce, you complain about Burum and the other Colonies’ defendants having their Christmas rained on by Mr. Nelson’s story (sniff sniff). Well, they’re probably entitled to a few not-so-nice holidays given that doozy $102 million early Christmas present they got in November 2006, part of which was sucked right out of my pocket. That’s my money, A-holes!
Happy New Year, bitches!
PS – I can’t wait for the next Colonies story by Nelson. I hope it runs on New Years Day.
And I hope the next runs on Valentine’s Day (let’s see Burum get laid that night). Hee hee hee!
#15. You can’t judge Joe Nelson and the Sun on what they DO report, worry about all that is going on that they DON’T report about. You are right, Joe Nelson COULD be doing a hell of a lot more, but they keep him on a short leash over there.
@14
Rex was, and still is, nothing but a snot! Got what he needed A SPANKING, but unfortunately it was in a baby nursery type jail;BRING BACK THE CHAIN GANG-PUT THEM TO WORK!
They went after Rex to avoid going after the John Does, and because it was a slam dunk and it would “justify” going after the Colonies defendants …BUT that, as we have come to see, was comparing apples and oranges!
Ramos was short sited…ELECTION MODE…not counting on the truth of his intentions to be exposed down the line.
Legal Eagle YOUR so so obvious….. cant wait for Ramos day of reckoning as well as Nelson and the rest of the bunch. One question (why so personal with your attacks?) The day is coming TICK TICK TICK BOOOOOOM see ya scumbag DA and the rest of your minions
#18=LSW?
Good grief…what does Nelson have to do with Ramos? Never mind don’t tell me- you don’t know what you are saying yourself! And no, there will be no boooom, it’s not a double O-7 movie.
The BOOOOOM is the career of a scumbag DA disintegrating and that POS will end up in jail…..its coming soooooooon
True Nelson is just a pawn in this whole game being played and his career will end up writing stories on little league baseball and community bake sales
Hmm, so I ask again, what does Nelson have to do with Ramos’ actions? Nothing!
I don’t believe Ramos’ career will end in a quick and painless “Booooom” that would be too easy, too painless, Ramos should live it out for us all to see, with our own eyes, as he is exposed and unravels…
“Your lights are on, but you’re not home
Your will is not your own”
“You can’t sleep, you can’t eat
There’s no doubt, you’re in deep
Your throat is tight, you can’t breathe”
“You see the signs, but you can’t read
You’re runnin’ at a different speed
You heart beats in double time”
#22, Joe Nelson and his short leash is a huge part of the problem in the County. As a member of the “fourth estate” and as the political reporter for a major newspaper in SB County, he is supposed to be reporting on corruption. He only reports on what he is allowed to report on, which is why he appears to be thorough in his reporting of the Colonies case. His team is the supposed “good” team for once, so he can make the most of it and look like a real reporter. Look at his reporting on the recent Sheriff’s retirement. The early stories are missing, the ones where old Rod is leaving with “no regrets” on his “own terms” and picks his replacement. Try to find those articles, they were archived in a matter of weeks. They must have figured out early on that was a tough sell. That process was a joke. If anyone were paying attention Josie and company would look like fools. But the BOS all knew they could get away with it because Joe would never tell the public the whole story. The average working person can’t go down to the BOS on a Tuesday morning, so they think their press will inform them. Fat chance that will happen. So the populace remains ignorant and it’s dirty business as usual in the County. Because the only way for things to change is for the public to demand it, and they aren’t allowed to have the truth.
Legal Eagle:
In Comment #15, you say “If you’re going to make continued attacks on Nelson and accuse him of biased reporting, at least state some facts to back it up.”
How about:
1) The fact that Mr. Nelson’s articles do not ever mention that that The Colonies successfully sued the County in Superior Court. Rather, Mr. Nelson’s articles try to deceive readers into believing that the settlement occurred before a trial.
2) The fact that Mr. Nelsons articles never mention that the court found Jeff Burum to be a “very credible witness,” who answered questions “directly” and “without hesitation,” but that the county Flood Control Director was found to be not “credible” because he “did not appear to be forthright in his responses.”
Legal Eagle:
I posted comment #24 prior to reading you entire comment #15. Had I done so, I would not have bothered.
It appears to me that you epitomize the precise mentality that Joe Nelson is trying to reach with his stories. Facts are not important, but childish name calling such as “A-holes” and “bitches.” is. Your concluding “Hee Hee Hee” ratifies my feeling.
Eagle Boy tries to qualify his comments by indicating he hardly ever looks at the blog… what a joke!
So what’s your motive here for trying to out-me like my identity is some big secret or something? If you really are a “legal eagle” attorney-type, U must be lawyering for The Sun in defense of our favorite “investigative reporter” (and I use both those terms loosely), Joe Nelson.
Don’t waste your time on here with me and Observer there Baldy, the guy that you really should give your kudos to for the $102M gift to the Colonies Boyz, and the way that the People have failed to pursue a proper prosecution of the Colonies Settlement conspirators is another bald guy, SBCo’s CEO Devilreaux.
Since Devilreaux purportedly has mucho-influence on the Sun/ Daily Facts/ Daily Bulletin through his making guest appearances to the newspaper in his dual role as public official/ editorial board member, Joe is what you call hamstrung on what he can put in his articles.
Therefore the Devil is in the details… and not much is leaked-out about how rampant corruption is at the County level, that’s how they KEEP THE SHAM GOING. Legal Eagle obviously favors the status quo, because the longer the litigation goes on, it only benefits the attorneys with their escalating legal fee$, no matter what side you might represent.
Hey LE, R U 1 of the ONT Daily Bull attorneys that sued to stop the SBCo. Sentinel’s adjudication, U POS?
LSW
you are hung over from last night, and the night before, and the night before, and the week before and the year before JUST GO BACK TO BED you are a fool!
Legal Eagle….what a show, Little Stevie Wonder followed by E.T. Snell. Where is Snell’s clown costume? LSW, if you are going to dress like that don’t forget your propeller hat…..No need to ask if OOF was there, colonies people do all of their business out of public view and when county counsel has been ejected from the room……..Does anyone know what business Schraeder started that became a multi million dollar success?
Anonymous #29:
Regarding your claim that “colonies people do all of their business out of public view and when county counsel has been ejected from the room:”
1) The 18 day trial in Superior Court was not “out of public view.”
2) I believe that those who were “ejected from the room” were the same group who had nine (9) attorneys present during the 18 day trial, and still got crushed. My understanding is that they wanted to keep fighting, as long as they could keep billing $100,000 a month.
Red,
Thanks for the laughs, too bad I missed the show, LSW and E.T., or was it-
The Beany and Cecil Show
BTW,thanks again to OoF for the common sense!
OOF……the only sensible thing would have been to stop proceedings and obtain different lawyers. Instead, Burum had a methed out Postmus dismiss county lawyers and all of this speedily transpired before the public could object. As Legal Eagle suggested, this site is a cheering section for the colonies corrupt partnership.
Anon #31….Go to the county supervisor website and you can view the last meeting. It’s quite entertaining. I still would like to know what business deputy Paul Shrader started that became a multi million dollar success.
I don’t get Legal Eagle’s humor, the “Hee hee’s are pointless remarks about Burum, “irrelevant and immaterial” which is why I doubt he is even in the legal profession, the only “legal” experience he may have is probably watching those old Perry Mason reruns.
So Legal Eagle can’t wait for Joe Nelson’s big story on Valentine’s Day?
Well, as the saying goes “be careful what you wish for, lest it come true”… and then what!!!? … then what?
Red, you say , “all of this speedily transpired before the PUBLIC could object” … did you say PUBLIC!? Or did you misspeak?
DA Mike Ramos was well aware of these on goings, had many a long conversations about it with many of those involved, his muddy footprints are all over it, but he saw nothing alarming and was allowing it to go through the court system…therefore…if there were any wrongdoings, it was DA MIKE RAMOS THAT HAD THE DUTY, as top law enforcement officer to OBJECT! What else is he handsomely paid for? WAIT…WHAT!? Are you saying Ramos was running a political machine from his office…like…like…Aleman! and Postmus! and Brad! and Eyler! and Matt Brown! BINGO!!!
The question in Ramos’ upcoming deposition should be why did he not object back then? Was it because there were no grounds for him to legally object … that is until the 2010 elections came rolling in.
And then he found an ally, and willing CONSPIRATOR, in Jerry Brown, who was also running for office; DEPOSE JERRY BROWN- BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
As I’ve stated countless times here, that it was at this point that we all witnessed Ramos’ and Brown’s politically choreographed circus, amounting to nothing more than an abuse of authority and position as they got “creative” with the charges in order to punish the political opposition- the defendants- and at the same time CAMPAIGN!
According to Anonymous # 33, “the only sensible thing would have been to stop proceedings and obtain different lawyers.”
Wow, I didn’t realize that it would have been so easy.
All the county had to do was get “different lawyers” and keep on fighting, while the monetary damages they owed The Colonies continued to increase. How “sensible!”
At least they might have saved some money on attorney fees with “different lawyers,” since the firm that represented the county was Jones Day, one of the most expensive in the world.
OoF;
In comment 30 you state that the county lawyers were ejected from the room. Who ejected them? I always heard they walked out and refused to sign off on the deal in disgust.
Repairman:
In comment #30, I am quoting Anonymous in Comment #29. He or she is the one who said that the county attorneys were “ejected from the room.”
I am not sure what happened, since I was not there. My understanding is that county attorneys wanted to keep fighting, but only if they got paid to do so. They were offered the opportunity to appeal the Superior Court ruling on a contingency basis, and declined.
However, if they refused “in disgust,” perhaps they were disgusted with their prior performance in the courtroom.
@ Observor of the Farts: So, Joe Nelson hasn’t reported on the Colonies trial and its trajectory? I want to make sure I’m hearing you clearly on this one? You’re saying Nelson never reported that info on Warner’s and Norrel’s tentative decisions? I want to make sure I’m reading you correctly here. Please reiterate. You’re referring to the trial that never concluded? The trial that was vacated in light of the Colonies settlement? You say Burum “successfully” won at trial. Really? Please elaborate and provide me more of your deep insight into the legal process that ensued. I’m confused. Are you talking about the judges on the Colonies case who came under scrutiny for potential abuse of power and judicial misconduct, or the grand jury investigation that Norrel quashed at the behest of Biane, or the pressure Burum put on Postmus to settle the lawsuit following the appellate court’s reversal of Norrel’s decision – the one rubber-stamped by Warner? Are yo talking about the Peter Norrel whose ex-wife got a bargain basement price on a home in the Colonies following the lawsuit?
As a former journalist myself with many friends still in the profession, I can honestly say that they can take great comfort in your ignorance. But I don’t suspect it’s ignorance at all, as other newspapers have essentially reported this story in similar fashion, without all the info in which you say makes Nelson’s articles so biased. I imagine Nelson does a little more with the Colonies because he works for The Sun, and I feel that’s why you single him out and go after him, because that’s the Colonies way and the way of its cheerleaders.
As to your comment “Facts are not important, but childish name calling such as “A-holes” and “bitches” is. Oh, you mean like the childish name calling and bullying you and Little Bitch Stevie Rogers do so often on this blog? Looks like hypocrisy, and insanity, is par for the court for you idiots.
Speaking of Little Bitch Stevie Rogers:
@Little Bitch Stevie Rogers: You ask, ” R U 1 of the ONT Daily Bull attorneys that sued to stop the SBCo. Sentinel’s adjudication, U POS?
You mean Mark Gutglueck’s Sentinel? The same Sentinel in which Gutglueck took $5,000-plus from Supervisor Neil Derry to publish and distribute a “Special November Election Edition” that was essentially a hit piece on James Ramos? An edition that was distributed SOLELY to residents of Derry’s Third District? Are you referring to the same Sentinel that violated every ethical and moral obligation a legitimate newspaper has by giving Derry carte blanche, allowing him to bring in his own hired attorney from a law firm, which I won’t name, to write an editorial about Ramos being a bad Indian? Are you referring to the Sentinel that filled 75 percent of its anorexic rag with anti-Ramos propaganda? Are you referring to the Sentinel that won’t print the name/names of its authors 99 percent of the time because Gutglueck, who I believe is the author of 99 percent of these stories, doesn’t have the balls to stand behind his reporting and be accountable?
You meant THAT Sentinel?
Guess that means YES, U R A POS, (wouldn’t expect anything less from an attorney!)
Legal Eagle:
In response to Comment #39, please cite one example where I have used “childish name calling” or “bullying” in any of my comments?
Your reference to a “trial that never concluded” is in my opinion an attempt to downplay the fact that an 18 day trial took place in Superior Court. At the conclusion of that trial, Judge Warner issued a ruling where he found the county liable to The Colonies. A copy is available on this site.
All that remained to be determined was the amount of money the county owed The Colonies, and that is what was settled. To say that the trial was “never concluded” because the amount of the damages were settled is disingenuous.
In numerous articles by Joe Nelson, he has stated that those who supported the settlement claimed that the county could have been liable for a lot more than $102 million if they had gone to trial and lost. In my opinion, that language is clearly intended to deceive readers.
My understanding is that The Colonies did not build any houses in The Colonies development, but rather sold lots to homebuilders such as KB and Standard Pacific. Do you know who sold Judge Norells wife the house at a “bargain basement price?”
Finally, your use of phrases such as “Observor of the Farts,” “you idiots,” “Little Bitch,” and “anorexic rag” seems extremely unprofessional for a “former journalist.”
@ Legal Eagle,
Your detailed information on the Sentinel and it’s publisher, Mark Gutglueck, leads me to believe you -for whatever reason- either find Gutglueck a threat personally (which is unlikely) or to whichever group you are speaking out on behalf of (which would be silly).
IN FACT, as a “former journalist” yourself, Legal “EAGLE”, I highly suspect you secretly appreciate greatly the “HAWK” journalism in Gutglueck! Why else then would you quote information about the judges in the Colonies case that was reported years ago in the Sentinel? So why accept Gutglueck’s articles on the Colonies as truth, then in the same breath call his articles on James Ramos “hit pieces”?
Your attacks on the Sentinel about how it called Ramos a “bad Indian” are totally unfair and dishonest!
SBC Sentinel 11/16/2012
“The county’s legal review of whether Third District Supervisor-elect James Ramos’s holdings create a conflict-of-interest that could prevent him from serving as supervisor….
At issue is whether Ramos’s duties as supervisor will come into conflict with his material financial interests in the San Manuel government and gaming operations…
San Manuel has millions of dollars in non-competitively bid contracts with the county for the sheriff to provide law enforcement patrols on the reservation and the district attorney for the review of criminal cases involving casino patrons and the tribe’s own Native American members.
For example, a contract executed August 10, 2010, and expiring on June 30, 2013, has the tribe paying $1,048,909 to the county for the services of the district attorney. Ramos, as then-tribal chairman, personally signed the agreement. Also present within the Third District is the Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) and San Bernardino International Airport
Authority (SBIAA)…”
=================== DO NOT GET ME WRONG LEGAL EAGLE!…
….. I do not take anyone’s word blindly, I checked Gutglueck out years ago, he is a seasoned (Hawk)journalist…
-He wrote for the Fontana Herald News, covering cops, courts, schools, City Hall and features from 1984 until 1988.
-He covered military developments for the Oceanside Blade Tribune [since renamed the North County Times] in 1985-86.
-He was the publisher/editor/writer for the Mirror Dispatch from 1988 until 1991.
-He was a writer with International Combat Arms Magazine from 1988 until 1990.
-He was a staff writer with Valley Wide Newspapers – entailing the Hesperia Resorter, Apple Valley News, Lucerne Valley Post, Victor Valley Living, The Desert Mountain Post Express, the Adelanto Bulletin and the County Legal Reporter – from 1991 until 2007.
-He was the editor of the Dana Point Pilot from 1993 until 1994.
-He was the editor of the Antelope Valley Journal from 2005 until 2006.
-He was a staff writer with the Colton City News and Grand Terrace City News from 1995 until 2006.
-He was a staff writer with the Loma Linda City News from 1996 until 2006.
-He was a staff writer with the Redlands City News from 1996 until 1998.
-He was the publisher of the short-lived Central Valley Guardian in 2006.
-He has been the publisher/editor/writer for the San Bernardino Sentinel from 2008 until the present.
-He has over 9,000 published articles and 300 published photos to my credit.
…AS YOU SEE LEGAL EAGLE…if anyone can cover the whole county
single-handed…it would be the Sentinel/Mark Gutglueck.
Next time you wish to criticise, or attack him, or the Sentinel, please make sure it’s fair and honest…if for nothing else, do it as a “professional courtesy” from one journalist to another.
As for LSW…no amount of soap will make any difference.
Yo Eagle, do you know anything about Ramos’ last minute hit piece on Derry, a publication called the “Law Enforcement News”?
Hope so, because talking about a conflict situation for DA Mikey, Sheriff Hoopster and others in key roles in the SBSD and Redlands PD (and no one at the County has denied that Candidate Ramos is shown on the cover of the LEN giving a pre-appointment “go ahead” to our new Sheriff Johnny Mac way before Hoops’ “retirement” was made public (!):) ‘corse u should know that if you’ve watched the videos of the last few BOS meetings.
Everything the Sentinel put out about Ramos stemmed from true evidence of impropriety, while the Law Enforcement News used political grandstanding, showing all these public officials in uniform using their official titles, and therefore representing their official capacities, endorsing a candidate for office.
This behavior reeks of the same stuff that has gone on with former BOS Chair Postmus and the Assessor’s office, or the Colonies Settlement selective prosecution… bet anything that the facilitator of this political misbehavior is DA Mikey’s Political Consultant David Ellis saying: “It’s all OK” in SBCo. politics!
Does Mikey like Life (not cereal) now… the real question is, what will the FPPC think?
@Legal Eagle
When you started off with “Observor of the “Farts” in #39 I thought it was LSW speaking.
So, #34, Mr. Red Anonymous, you find it entertaining to ridicule citizens who gave up their morning to give their three minute right to comment on the process? As citizens, aren’t we supposed to participate in our government? It must be so easy for you to sit on the sidelines and critique those of us that stand up for what we believe in… Did you make fun of me too as you sat there watching? I assure you, everything I said was fact. Clearly, you were not there, it must not have been important enough, but you make fun of people that were? If you think the BOS did the right thing, and that Josie’s whole “Ad Hoc” committee thing wasn’t a crock of BS, please stand up at the next meeting and tell them so! And let us know when you are there, so we can watch you, because if you can defend that joke of a process, I will surely find that entertaining….
Red Anon, now that your 3rd District Supervisor has been seated thanks to a corrupt body politic in San Bernardino County, maybe you and Legal Eagle want to come clean on what positions you hold on Ramos’ staff?
And don’t forget what activity first got the former 3rd District Supervisor in hot water with County Admin and with DA Mikey, besides Derry’s affiliation with the Admin for this site, was BLOGGING on iePolitics(dot)com administrated by (former?) public employee Sharon Gilbert.
If U 2 political hacks are being paid by taxpayer dollar$ to come on here and harass us and make baseless accusations about how concerned citizens are voicing their 1st Amendment rights of free speech, that’s even more relevant info for the FPPC about aiding and abetting the Ramos/ McMahon case of ELECTION/ APPOINTMENT FRAUD.
Hey Little Stevie Blunder, are you calling the voters of San Bernardino
County corrupt?
Repairman:
I believe that Little Stevie Wonder was referring to the Mike Ramos prosecution of Neil Derry that paved the way for the James Ramos victory. If so, that’s old news, and its time to move on.
Are you satisfied with the job James Ramos has done in his first month on the job? Have you seen anything to suggest that he will do what he said he would do while campaigning, such as creating jobs?
OoF – First, since when has any member of the BOS been ever to create one job, except for government?
As far as James goes, he is just as corrupt as the others. The first action to take place was the appointment of the Sheriff. What did he do to show that it wasn’t business as usual. He voted for it….
OoF nobody made derry launder that money, and that is why he had to plead guilty to avoid that felony charge. By the way is he still on probation? and keeping his nose clean? of course he is useless now being a disgraced politician that only a few people voted for.
And don’t forget, Ramos won, derry screwed himself with his arrogance.
I know your going to say, it’s all someone else’s fault like always, but I still wonder why this proud Marine would let lie’s be told about him and not fight it. He just rolled over and pleaded guilty.
Repairman:
You got your wish: Neil Derry is out, and James Ramos is in. Let’s let the Derry bashing die and concentrate on the job James Ramos is doing.
I said all during the campaign that I felt that he was not qualified to be a County Supervisor; has he done anything in his first month in office to suggest that he is?
I had to laugh about his choice of Chief of Staff; he runs on a platform of creating jobs in his district, and then creates a job for somebody that not only does not live in his district, he doesn’t even live in San Bernardino County.
Repairman, time to get some NEW lipstick for your pig dude.
Tell us how your brother James Ramos is kicking ass and taking names since he has been in office.
There is NO QUESTION his head has been up the asses of those who have been in office for years.
I was thinking James would hit the ground running by the way you and others spoke of him.
IT must have been ruff for James to have an arm stuck up his butt when he voted for John McMahon. One of the tuffest decisions James will make via the arm of rectal decision making.
Just saying!!!
ACU:
The pig is STILL YOUR’S (it was a dumb ass mistake but you to have own it like it or not) . Now tell us what derry ever did except get arrested or should I say, turn himself in and accept a plea bargain?
OoF what was it exactly was it that made derry qualified to be a County Supervisor? was it his one house property management business? or his pride in being a Marine? a Marine that wouldn’t defend himself ( he wouldn’t defend himself tell me why you think he would defend or watch out for the Citizens of his district) or his ability, or should I say his lack of to hide funds?
Hey ACU, I forgot to say I’m glad your pig gave you another chance and brought you back up from the minor leagues on I.E. . My advice to you is don’t blow it. Now how’s that pig of your’s?
Oh look, Repairman doesn’t even know the difference between election fraud and voter fraud, so sad.
Repairman:
You keep bringing up Neil Derry; how about commenting on the job James Ramos is doing.
As to Neil Derry not defending himself, had he not agreed to the deal where the felony charges were dismissed, they would still be hanging over his head, and the James Ramos campaign could have portrayed him as somebody being prosecuted for felonies.
Either way, Mike Ramos would have achieved his objective, which was to launch a selective prosecution to help James Ramos unseat Neil Derry.
By the way, the above article discusses what happens when somebody chooses to fight one of Mike Ramos politically motivated prosecutions: every possible step is taken to slow down the proceedings and delay the defendant’s day in court.
Hey, how come there were no felony charges filed against Mike Ramos when he diverted $10,000 of campaign contributions to his wife? This was double the amount of the fully reported campaign contribution that Neil Derry allegedly “laundered,” and Mike Ramos only received a FPPC fine. Please explain.
It’s ironic that one of James Ramos first actions was voting for an ordinance that turns the investigation and prosecution of this type of violation over to the FPPC, and precludes the DA from launching similar politically motivated prosecutions.
Anyway, once again, how about commenting on the job James Ramos is doing.
Little Blunder please tell me what the fraud was. And don’t start with this nonsense about revenge from Mike Ramos.
OoF you asked me to comment on Ramos’s reformance so far. O.K. he hasn’t had to turn himself into the authorities.
LOL Repairman, I got some new lipstick for my pig. About time to have him for dinner actually.
Neal Derry did plenty or tried, but he was a lone wolf on getting anything accomplished. For example Derry out of the gate and BEFORE he was prosecuted attempted to cute the DA’s and the courts budget. Of course I know you might believe that had NOTHING to do with pissing anyone off.
I hope your not going to tell us that Mike Ramos don’t mind his kingdom being played with by the likes of Neil Derry or anyone else.
I know your not going to tell us Neil Derry was the ONLY corrupt BOS member because he was the only one charged with crimes?
You civilians who wrapped your arms around the idea that bad things are what they are, ONLY if someone is charged or convicted of crimes or both, and if no crimes are charged NOTHING is going on is LAUGHABLE.
If your paying attention PLENTY of cases out there floating around that suggest DA Mike Ramos is selective in who and what he prosecutes.Of course I have noticed the LEFT wing liberals who post here haven’t paid much attention to the other cases going on out there, JUST the colonies case. WOW someone isn’t paying attention.
I will say it again, Neil Derry should have fought the charges, the jury would have had input whether Neil gets convicted on a felony or misdemeanor charge. I am sure the jury instructions given would have allowed that.
I called BS when Derry pled guilty then turned around and said he did so just to GET ON with the peoples busines, but he was innocent. NEVER have bought that reasoning, NEVER will.
I also understand the argument some make that Ramos would have drug out the prosecution long into the upcoming campaign. I call BS on that too.
Derry could have demanded a jury trial within 60 days of being arraigned, his case was not so complex his attorneys would have needed months to come up with a defense.
I will suggest Neils attorney like many might have wanted to MILK the cash cow if anything.
If I am charged with crimes, then by GOD a jury of my peers will decide my fate sooner than later, NOT 4 years down the road.
I think Derry followed the advise of his attorneys who probably didn’t want to sling ANY mud at the DA. NOT a mystery around here how MOST attorney’s don’t want to sling mud at the DA and piss them off. It is what it is, but the defendant will get the short end of the stick most of the time.
Rex Guiterrez could have slung MUCH more mud than he did. Of course Reiss is a DISBARRED attorney so what can I say about that.
I know some of the Colonies crew are willing to sling that mud. And they HAVE mud to sling at Mikey and friends.
You fine citizens with no personal experience in the judicial system won’t understand that because you have NOT been there done that.
The best most of you can do is argue the case based on what Joe Nelson prints or what you hear behind the scenes from someone in the KNOW.
That’s fine, but when you start telling those who DO KNOW or been there done that their idiots or fools, then it’s time for the gloves to come off. That’s why most of you hide behind a screen name and talk smack, that too is what it is.
Ramos and crew have been dicking around with this case now for almost 4 years.
Just about everytime someone is ready to do battle, the DA’s office releases MORE discovery that causes the defense to stop and take more time to read what the discovery is and then re-evaluate their approach.
That is a COMMON practice with this DA. Some call it a strategy. If your worried about something coming out you don’t want everyone to know about, this strategy MIGHT be used.
The same crap is going on right now with the POST scandal. Ya know where charges were dropped against ONE former SBSD employee. And it took the DA several months to MAN UP and do that.
If the colonies crew is paying attention they might want to file some “pitches motions” on the DA investigators handling the Colonies crew based on the recent 4th district court of appeals ruling on “pitchess motion”.
There might be a treasure chest of good stuff in one or more of those DA investigators file.
Funny how Mikey Ramos charges former Upland City manager Rob Quincy with one count of perjury in a deposition Quincy gave, but County Coucil Cynthia O’Neal SBSD’s NUMBER 1 prosecutor gets a PASS for passing OFFICIAL forged documents during a judicial hearing.People saw that with their own eyes. NO mystery there.
PLENTY of situations past and present to suggest Mike Ramos has problems with the Colonies prosecution from various stand points.
Of course if the Colonies lawyers ONLY care about the specifics of their case, then I’d say their clients might suffer at the end.
And let’s not forget the recent case involving Sam Clauder and the BULLSHIT the Sheriff’s department and DA’s office put him through.
YOU civilian liberals keep cheering for Mike Ramos and crew if you want, I’ll laugh along.
Oh wait Sam Clauder was a liberal and FEW if any of you commented on that debacle. YOUR sole focus on the Colonies is GLARRING.
Yes the Colonies crew is doomed because the civilian mass say so who relie on the likes of Joe Nelson to give them the ammo for the ENDLESS arguments on this blog.
I am done with my rant Repairman, nice to hear from you again.
I think I will go shoot that pig now.
Repairman MY BAD, should have included Biane and Postmus in my commentary about corrupt BOS members.
Repairman:
You’re not answering the questions, but at least you stopped claiming that Neil Derry was arrested. I guess that’s progress.
Anyway, apparently James Ramos IS doing what he said he would do during his campaign.
According to an article in The Sun, he hired a “deputy chief of staff” with an annual salary of $161,361, an “administrative analyst” with an annual salary of $111,518, and a “communications assistant” with an annual salary of $77,691.
He is creating jobs!
Do you have any idea what an “administrative analyst” for a county supervisor does, or why somebody filling this position commands a salary of $111,518 annually? I don’t.
OoF before I start on you, please help me understand WHY you came onto this blog a couple weeks ago TELLING the readers you WERE NOT part of the Colonies crew or had ANY affiliation with them?
I realize some laughed, but said nothing, but I am not one to mislead the public with such fodder.
DO NOT insult us all by suggesting your just a concerned citizen seeking justice for Jeff Burum and company?
Political operatives have their place, but not in the judicial system as you have CLEARLY THOUGHT was the proper strategy.
AntiCorruptionUnit:
In response to Comment #63, I have been making comments on this blog for nearly three (3) years, not a “couple” of “weeks.” I recommend that you go back and read a few of these comments.
For the record, I AM NOT involved in any way with The Colonies. I am not one of The Colonies partners or investors, nor am I being paid by The Colonies (or anybody else) to make comments on this site.
As stated in many of the comments that you have never read, soon after the charges were announced, I said that I supported the maximum penalties for The Colonies defendants if the prosecution could prove their case. So far, they have been going in reverse.
What I AM is a 5th generation county resident who has been jerked around by defiant bureaucrats many times, and, like most of us, one who could never afford to fight back.
On that basis, I followed The Colonies case with great interest, fully enjoying seeing what could happen when the county finally bullied somebody who had the ability to fight back. On the other hand, I followed it as a longtime county taxpayer, and was and continue to be disgusted watching bureaucrats and elected officials gamble with taxpayer money with total impunity.
When it was announced at the press conference by Mike Ramos and Jerry Brown nearly 3 years ago, I strongly felt that the prosecution was nothing more than retaliation for The Colonies having the audacity to take on the county, and then winning. Nothing that has happened since, such as the Appellate Courts ruling or $10 million in bail becoming $0, has changed my opinion.
For the record, just as I have previously denied accusations of being Jeff Burum himself, being an employee of Neil Derry, and being an attorney, I deny being a “political operative” in “the judicial system,” whatever that is.
YES OoF I know you have been posting for more than 3 years, it was your comments of a couple weeks ago that caught my attention thus the above comment.
You MUST have forgotten our exchanges back and forth on another blog in I’d say the first year of your posting.
Hopefully your paying attention to the others who are fighting back from being bullied, NOT just the Colonies.
I will admit I have not read ALL of your comments in the last 3 years.
It is what it is when you focus on one case and seldom speak on the other cases that are out front and of equal importance as it relates to FAIRNESS within the judicial system.
The assumption your part of the Colonies crew after 3 years of bantering back and forth with folks is a fair one in my opinion.
So now you may have repeated what you said before, YOUR NOT part of Colonies.
If your upset by my initial comments about you being part of their crew what else might one think with all your commentary?
As much time as you spend talking about this case, I dang sure would have attempted to speak with some of those involved and become MORE informed than you seem to be now.
Just sayin, but thanks for the clarification.
OoF yes I totally agree about retaliation for the Colonies dare fighting the powers to be.
ACU…….OOF is fed up with everything except the actual cause of the corruption, that being the colonies. These are the very ones that have ushered in the deceitful spirit we see today and is equivalent to placing all the blame on the addict and covering up for the dealer. In most cases, such as this, it was the dealer that turned out weak willed individuals and ushered them into their zombie like Postmus state…..Giving OOF the benefit of the doubt, is it possible that his wife works for colonies in some capacity? If so, would he admit to such?
Mrs. Duane Parkinson #45……I saw you, but my comments were directed at LSW’s attire and Legal Eagles spot on analysis of LSW’s deer in the headlights reaction to Josie snapping at him. I don’t argue your assertions of county dysfunction, I agree. All I’m suggesting is a little more color coordination and a little less crazy, especially if you have ET Snell speaking right after you.
AntiCorruptionUnit:
Regarding your recommendation that I “speak with some of those involved and become more informed:”
1)Who do you suggest that I “speak with?”
2)Why would doing so make me “more informed?”
There is a reason that hearsay is inadmissible in court, so I have chosen to base my opinions on documentation whenever possible. In The Colonies case, Judge Warner’s Statement of Intended Decision is the key document, in my opinion.
Anonymous # 67:
Looks like I need to go on the record with another denial. I am currently not married, so my wife does not work for The Colonies. Neither does my ex wife, or any other female I associate with. Why is it that you and AntiCorruptionUnit think that you must be somehow affiliated with The Colonies if you do not agree with Mike Ramos?
Your claim that The Colonies is “the cause of the corruption” is interesting, given that there was a lot of “corruption” in the county, such as the Jerry Eaves situation, long before The Colonies group was even in business.
In my opinion, the current District Attorney is more corrupt that all the Colonies partners and investors combined.
“In my opinion, the current District Attorney is more corrupt that all the Colonies partners and investors combined.”
=== And THAT my friends is the one million dollar question…by the very sensible Oof!
Q: In a twist of fate, will it be the COLONIES CASE that ends up exposing the TRUE “biggest corruption scandal in San Bernardino County, if not the state’s, history.” ?
Hmmm, tune in next week for “AS THE WORLD TURNS!”
=== This is getting better than any classic soap opera; as Inlandpolitics Turns!”
Um, a little reminder to District Attorney Mike Ramos; we are moving in just a little bit closer!
“Your lights are on, BUT YOU’RE NOT HOME
Your MIND IS NOT YOUR OWN
Your HEART SWEATS, your BODY SHAKES
Another kiss is what it takes
You CAN’T SLEEP, you CAN’T EAT
== THERE’S NO DOUBT, YOU’RE IN DEEP ==
YOUR THROAT IS TIGHT, YOU CAN’T BREATH
You SEE THE SIGNS, but YOU CAN’T READ
YOU’RE RUNNING’ AT, A DIFFERENT SPEED
YOUR HEART BEATS, IN DOUBLE TIME”
I will partially agree with you OoF especially the LAST line of your comment, and that’s because I am paying attention to ALL the going’s on past and present issues, small or big to make my argument.
As to this.
“In The Colonies case, Judge Warner’s Statement of Intended Decision is the key document, in my opinion”.
WELL if that had any SERIOUS meat to it, as it relates to the prosecution and ALL the charges set forth in this case, then one or more of the lawyers would be holloring about it on a regular basis.
But I’ll say in advance, I may have missed that if they have.
Simple point, Judge Warners DECISION does not SET ASIDE most of the charges ALLEDGED in these crimes.
But I’ll remind you AGAIN as I did 2 years ago, that judge or the other judges didn’t know what was going on OUTSIDE their courtroom, and I am speaking of those issues Mike Ramos and crew are all gun ho about.
If those Judges did, then either the proesecution or defense will have interviewed them to find out if they KNEW anything going on outside their courtrooms. If that hasn’t happened yet, then I think the issue is MOOT!!!!
I would think either side would have offered up all that in their arguments.
If your STILL thinking that Judge Warners decision is the KEY in this ENTIRE case, OKAY!!!! That’s the difference in those who have been there done that and those who have NOT when it comes to SEEING or LOOKING outside the box.
Did I miss where the 4th District Court or Judge McCarville quoted Judge Warners decision as the KEY TO DISMISSING the charges against Burum and company? Or adding any for that matter?
And this.
“There is a reason that hearsay is inadmissible in court, so I have chosen to base my opinions on documentation whenever possible. In The Colonies case, Judge Warner’s Statement of Intended Decision is the key document, in my opinion”.
The ONLY document thus far is Judge Warner’s.
Your lack of TRUE experience from an investigative or judicial stanpoint speaks for itself on that comment.
What does Joe Nelson do or any other reporter in getting a story together?
He talks with people IF THEY WILL TALK, looks at documents if he can get them?
What do Judges do when hearing a case? Talk to people and look at documents, listen to testimony.
What do lawyers do when handling their business? Talk to people, look at documents and all kinds of POSSIBLE evidence.
What do cops do when investigating crimes or preparing to appear in court?
Talk to people look at documents or other tangible evidence. HEARSEY information LEADS to other issues and POSSIBLY more evidence.
What do politicians do when performing their duties, and our about to make a decision on a matter before them?
Talk to people, look at documents or other tangible issues to make a decision.
NEVER heard any of the above people in my 30 years of doing this stuff tell me, OH I won’t bother talking with ANYONE who might know something BECAUSE it’s just HEARSEY!!!!
Sorry OoF your ONLY HALF way there at BEST, on what is a common practice and STILL wrapping your arms around Judge Warner’s decision.
First off, YOUR not going to be appearing in court and offering up TESTIMONY in this case so the RULES of EVIDENCE as to hearsey for purposes of your ARGUMENT are SORRY, funny.
And in closing if you were my attorney and ALL you could talk about is Judge Warners decision and FELT it was the key to my defense, well sir with ALL due respect, I WOULD FIRE YOU!!!!
When you fight a battle of this magnitude, either side puts EVERY nail into the other parties coffin and adds a few more JUST for good measure.
YOU have been holding just ONE nail up in the air for 3 years.
Don’t feel bad OoF MANY good citizens such as yourself have held up just ONE nail when they chose to argue with the Police/Court about something they saw or were involved in, thinking they would SHOW those cops/lawyers what life is all about.
Many of them lost the battle in the courtroom. They forgot to bring the box of nails to hammer to POLICE with.
My point OoF, GO get some more nails.
ACU…..TOUCHE!
Red,
ACU is a French Guard now, so it’s “tu-shay!” ACU has grown up and is now a fine young man! I hardly recognized his speech!
OOF……#69, Have you ever noticed that when a mafia personality is slain or sent to prison there is always someone to take his place? Corruption didn’t end with Eaves, there were people waiting in the wings for their big chance to play BOSS HOGG. If their was no monetary or political gain to be had with being in politics and the job was based solely on a true and genuine desire to SERVE ones fellow man then there would be no corruption, however, colonies, as well as others, have made it impossible for the public to receive un-adulterated public service.
Gentlemen:
You should all know that none of the Lawyers can be “hollering” about Judge Warner’s decision or any other of the volumes of exculpatory evidence that exists until this case gets out of the demurrer stage, and that cannot happen until the prosecutors run out of appeals. If the Supreme Court rejects the prosecutor’s writ in the next couple of weeks, I’m confident you will have a hay-day with the new information that will start to be released through motions the defendants start to file. This case is about to take a turn that most in the public may never hear, because the papers seem to like to write about the issues the prosecutors only want to talk about. Expect the defense Lawyers to start talking about a lot more than just Judge Warner’s decision.
@76 that’s good to know.. Can’t wait.
SDurango:
Thank you for Comment #76; I had given up on trying to explain to some of the people that post comments here what the demurrer stage means.
One person suggested that the length of time the appellate court was taking suggested that they were reviewing evidence the FBI uncovered.
I too await the case getting out of the demurer stage, where the prosecution will finally have to start proving their case.
How much longer do you think the prosecution can continue to refuse to tell us how much money they have spent?
Hmmm maybe we should add up ALL the high profile and BOGUS prosecution or attempted prosecution under RAMOS’s regime since he got into office?
Now I bet folks could REALLY wrap their arms around that figure.
LOTS of nails in that box too!!!
ACU, too bad you can’t add up the cases Ramos DID NOT prosecute because of favors too. I wonder what THAT figure would look like…. Too bad we can never really know who got away with what they did…
If you are compiling a list of cases that Mike Ramos “DID NOT prosecute,” you should put the $10,000 disbursement to his wife from his campaign contributions at #1.
This action warrented a FPPC fine, but when Neil Derry allegedly “laundered” a fully reported $5,000 campaign contribution, out came the felony charges.
When Mike Ramos career as DA ends, look for him to land a job with the San Manual Band of Mission Indians.
@80 I think there are enough cases we KNOW about to hammer Ramos. We would just get more pissed than we are if we knew about ALL the cases where friends got a pass.
Of course the social media was not as active as it is now. Since many blogs are running at full steam, Ramos has to be more careful on who he upsets. MORE secrets from the regime seem to be leaking out than ever before.
@OoF OH YES, I do not think those paying attention will forget about Mikeys litte $10k check to the Mrs. anytime soon.
His excuse was something to the effect of, “oh I made a mistake on that”?
YES it goes right along with the Derry matter and the Erwin matter to. That’s why Mike Ramos I am sure will be called as a witness in the Colonies, that reason and several others.
And let us not forget Mike Ramos pal Gary Penrod who made MANY misteps over a 10 year period for his “failure” to report gifts and income.
Ramos excuse for NOT prosecuting Penrod, “their close working relationship”.
Will see if a jury buys all that non-sense at some point.
Again it’s ALL about how many nails you have. Ramos has WAY to many issues and they are JUST as glarring as some of the defendants.
Ramos would have been better off keeping his mouth shut instead of jumping up in front of TV camera’s talking smack about corruption when that fools own back yard is as dirty as those he charges. THAT simple.
One of the many reason Ramos has been dragging his feet on his HIGHER profile prosecutions.
WAIT and SEE is all we can say for now.
Since you seem to be on the subject, allow me to throw in my two cents, I SAY…
…let’s tally up all the cases in which District Attorney Mike Ramos recruited supervising DA Gary Fagan to assist him in making sure “certain” cases either the go away quietly, are reduced to an infraction, or a disturbing the peace, as JANE UN’s dozens of felonies were- as personally directed by Mike Ramos as a personal favor to UN.
Yes, those “PAST” and “PRESENT” “East Siders” are/were very close knit:
John Mier, Dennis Hansberger, Jerry Lewis, Jane Un, Brett Granlund, Mike Ramos, Bill Buster, Beswisk, Atilla Un, Jane Un, Charles Hindley, LeRoy Hansberger, Warren Whitehead, Wallace Farrell, Ann Cunningham, and many more I’ve yet to uncover, or I’m waiting for verification.
So, in the meantime, lets sing that (Redlands) East Side song again-
The Night Chicago Died
-Paperlace,
In the heat of a summer night
In the land of the DOLLAR BILL
…
When a man named Al Capone
Tried to make that town his own
…
And he called his gang to war
With THE FORCES OF THE LAW
…
And the sound of the battle rang
Through the streets of the old EAST SIDE
‘Til the last of the hoodlum GANG
=== Had SURRENDERED UP or DIED
There was shouting in the street
And the sound of RUNNING FEET
And I asked someone who said
‘Bout a hundred cops are dead
THEN THERE WAS NO SOUND AT ALL
But the clock upon the wall…
… tic, tic, tic…
to tag on #84 LSW …………..BOOOOOM SEE YA SCUMBAG DA
Who?
Who is this?
Why the DA?
Anyone there?
I don’t understand?
Can someone please explain?
How did this happen?
And why?
Has the State Supreme Court ruled on this?
Bribery laws have not evolved? What happened to enforcing the laws currently on the books?
To much political correctness!!!
#95
“What happened to enforcing the laws currently on the books?”
Current laws do not allow for the kind of unjust creative twisting, turning and molding to fit the way Mike Ramos wants to “enforce the law.” The art of “bribery” is as old as the Bible, what is there to “evolve”?