10:00 PM PDT on Monday, July 26, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterrise
San Bernardino County is no longer revealing its litigation costs in its civil lawsuit against former county officials accused of corruption.
County officials say they’re doing so to protect their legal strategy and that state law allows them to keep information about litigation records confidential until the matter is resolved.
Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 05:00 pm
From District Attorney investigators recently pulling time card records of at least one current high-profile County Government Center employee, to pre-election day cover-ups, to intrigue surrounding the Public Defender’s office disqualifying itself in the conspiracy case involving former Assessor Bill Postmus, things are about to start stirring in San Bernardino County political and legal circles.
Much is happening these days.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/23/2010 05:57:50 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDIN0 – In a motion seeking dismissal of state charges of extortion and bribery against former San Bernardino County assistant assessor Jim Erwin, Erwin’s attorney claims state and county prosecutors have failed to clearly state the charges, thereby thwarting Erwin’s ability to properly defend himself.
Criminal defense attorney Rajan R. Maline on Friday filed the motion in San Bernardino Superior Court, in which he also alleges that the three-year statute of limitations has expired for the offenses in which both Erwin and former county Assessor Bill Postmus stand accused.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/21/2010 06:06:11 PM PDT
Prosecutors may present some of their evidence of malfeasance by two former top officials in the county Assessor’s Office at a hearing next month, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Former Assessor Bill Postmus and Gregory Eyler, former taxpayer advocate, were scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 12 during their appearances in San Bernardino Superior Court.
By Mike Cruz
Created: 07/21/2010 04:07:19 PM PDT
A Superior Court judge has recalled an arrest warrant against former county taxpayer advocate Gregory Eyler, who missed a court appearance this morning because he had overslept, his lawyer said.
Eyler appeared about 3:10 p.m. in San Bernardino Superior Court, court personnel confirmed. Judge Michael Dest resumed Eyler’s bail bond and withdrew a $200,000 warrant for the defendant’s arrest, lawyer Stan Hodge said.
By Mike Cruz
Posted: 07/21/2010 10:51:29 AM PDT
A Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for Gregory Eyler and ordered his bail bond forfeited this morning when the former county taxpayer advocate failed to appear for a scheduled hearing.
Eyler and former Assessor Bill Postmus were both scheduled to appear before Judge Michael Dest at 8:30 a.m. in San Bernardino Superior Court. Both are charged in a case stemming from the county’s investigation into alleged malfeasance in the Assessor’s Office.
San Bernardino County officials have taken a new approach at inquiries into costs associated with civil litigation related to alleged time card fraud in the Assessors operation under Bill Postmus.
The new approach? We’re not going to tell you.
Yes, that’s right. An official request for an updated legal cost figure was met with the following response. The cost of taxpayer-sponsored litigation is now confidential!
The ongoing saga involving San Bernardino County supervisor Paul Biane and his apparently former chief of staff Matt Brown just keeps getting better and better.
During our last update we informed you that Brown was reportedly balking at taking a position in the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office.
Sources at the time were telling InlandPolitics.com Brown wanted his legal bills paid for by the county.
Now we have learned of a new request.
Rex Gutierrez
08:44 AM PDT on Thursday, July 8, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Former San Bernardino County assessor’s official Rex Gutierrez will be retried starting Aug. 30 on corruption charges.
Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse scheduled the new trial at a brief hearing Wednesday. A pre-trial conference will be held Aug 6.
Gutierrez
Jurors’ remarks provide encouragement
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/03/2010 09:50:18 PM PDT
Prosecutors say they are not deterred by their failure to convict Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez and are convinced they’ll do better the second time around.
Assistant District Attorney Jim Hackleman said prosecutors had a chance to talk to jurors following the mistrial that was declared Wednesday in the two-week trial of Gutierrez, 50, who is charged with two felony counts of grand theft and one felony count of filing a false claim.
District Attorney Mike Ramos / Attorney General Jerry Brown
.
Thursday, July 1, 2010 – 10:00 a.m.
Once thing is for certain.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos drawing Attorney General Jerry Brown into his crusade against his political enemies was a smart move.
Even though Defendant Jim Erwin pushed him into it.
Gutierrez
10:21 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 30, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the criminal corruption case against Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez after a jury deadlocked on a verdict.
In a brief comment as he left the courtroom, Deputy District Attorney John Goritz said the office plans to retry Gutierrez.
June 30, 2010 5:49 PM
SAN BERNARDINO • Judge Duke D. Rouse declared a mistrial Wednesday in the corruption case of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez, who’s accused of defrauding taxpayers while working in the San Bernardino County Assessor’s office under Bill Postmus.
Prosecutors argued Gutierrez, 50, worked on Rancho Cucamonga matters on county time and filed false time cards during his 22 months as intergovernmental relations officer in the Assessor’s office. He faced two felony counts of grand theft of more than $400 and one felony count of filing a false claim.
Gutierrez
Joe Nelson and Mike Cruz, Staff Writers
Posted: 06/30/2010 04:06:38 PM PDT
A mistrial has been declared in the trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez.
The 11-woman, one-man jury voted 7-5 and 8-4 in favor of convictions on Gutierrez’s two felony charges of grand theft and 9-3 in favor of conviction on one felony count of filing a false claim.
Jurors began deliberations on Monday.
The jury in the trial of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez announced it was at an impasse Wednesday afternoon.
Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse declared a mistrial and sent the jury home after being informed a unanimous verdict could not be reached.
The jury, consisting of 11 women and 1 man, could not reach a verdict on any of the felony charges, consisting of two counts of grand theft and one count of filing a false claim.
Another interesting aspect of today’s deliberations in the Rex Gutierrez trial was the request for testimony read-back by the jury.
The jury requested the court reporter read-back testimony of the defendant.
***This post was updated and revised late Tuesday night after the receipt of clarification on the jury’s inquiry. A completely different line of inquiry occurred than that originally published***
The jury deliberating the fate of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez ended its first full day of deliberations with no verdict and a couple questions for the court and attorneys.
Jury deliberations to determine the fate of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez has reconvened.
Gutierrez faces three felony charges related to alleged time card fraud during his employment under former Assessor Bill Postmus.
Rex Gutierrez
10:27 PM PDT on Monday, June 28, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
The first case to go to trial in a corruption investigation against five San Bernardino County officials went to the jury Monday.
In his closing arguments before a packed courtroom, defense attorney James Reiss called his client Rex Gutierrez a pawn in prosecutors’ attempts to go after an influential developer.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/28/2010 08:25:01 PM PDT
Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez, while employed at the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office, honestly documented his activities, deceived no one and became a political pawn in a corruption probe by state and local prosecutors, his attorney argued Monday.
During an emphatic closing argument in San Bernardino Superior Court, defense attorney James Reiss decried prosecutors’ allegations that Gutierrez conspired with Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum and former Assessor Bill Postmus in taking a job at the county office while performing work in his capacity as a councilman.
It was the defense’s turn this morning in San Bernardino County Superior Court in the trial of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez.
Gutierrez is facing three felony counts related to alleged time card fraud while working for Assessor Bill Postmus.
County alleges fraud in Assessor’s Office
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/27/2010 07:02:50 AM PDT
As the trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez comes to a close this week, a civil lawsuit against the defendant and four other former executive staff at the county Assessor’s Office lingers on.
The county filed the lawsuit on May 12, 2009, the same day a county-commissioned investigative report detailing alleged misconduct in the Assessor’s Office under the reign of Assessor Bill Postmus was released to the public.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/27/2010 09:52:30 PM PDT
After seven days of testimony, the trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez approached its end Thursday with prosecutor John Goritz delivering his closing argument.
Defense attorney James Reiss delivers his closing argument today in San Bernardino Superior Court.
Gutierrez
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, June 24, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez defrauded San Bernardino County taxpayers as part of a “culture of corruption” at the assessor’s office, a prosecutor charged Thursday in his closing argument.
Deputy District Attorney John Goritz told the jury there was overwhelming evidence of a conspiracy that allowed Gutierrez to get his position as intergovernmental relations officer at the assessor’s office through a political favor yet avoid any discipline for failing to do much work.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 06/24/2010 07:30:48 PM PDT
Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez knowingly falsified time records and was paid for hours not worked in the county Assessor’s Office, and should therefore be convicted of grand theft, a prosecutor said Thursday in San Bernardino Superior Court.
“The evidence shows, well beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant lied on his time cards and didn’t show up for work regularly,” prosecutor John Goritz said during his closing argument Thursday in Gutierrez’s trial. “You can decide this case based on that alone.”
June 24, 2010 1:45 PM
Natasha Lindstrom
SAN BERNARDINO • As arguments wrap up in the first jury trial in a far-reaching county corruption probe, a judge on Thursday dropped one of four felony counts against an executive staff member of former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus.
Defendant Rex Gutierrez, also a Rancho Cucamonga councilman, is accused of defrauding taxpayers by working on personal or Rancho Cucamonga matters on county time and falsifying time cards, during his service as intergovernmental relations officer under Postmus.
Closing arguments began this afternoon in the case involving Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez.
Gutierrez is now charged with only three felonies related to his employment under former Assessor Bill Postmus, after Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse acquitted him of Embezzlement by a Public Officer, count number three of the complaint. The Embezzlement charge dismissal is a blow to the prosecution. The embezzlement charge is what is referred to as a “general intent” crime with a lower threshold to prove guilt.
This morning Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse dismissed one felony count against Rancho Cuamonga City Councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez,
During preparation of jury instructions defense attorney Jim Reiss made a motion to dismiss count three of the complaint for Embezzlement by a Public Officer (Penal Code Section 424). Reiss argued Gutierrez’s duties and responsibilities did not subject him to penalty under the law.
Gutierrez
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/23/2010 06:42:31 PM PDT
Defense attorney James Reiss rested his case Wednesday in San Bernardino Superior court following testimony from four character witnesses in the trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez.
Each of the character witnesses described the Gutierrez as an “honest man.”
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 23, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
A San Bernardino County prosecutor hammered at the credibility of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez on Wednesday as the former county assessor’s official continued his second day on the witness stand.
The testimony came as the prosecution and defense called their last witnesses in the sixth day of the corruption trial. Closing arguments are scheduled for today.
Wednesday, June 23, 2020 – 3:45 P.M.
Testimony in the trial of Rex Gutierrez ended this afternoon following the conclusion of Gutierrez’s testimony and that of four character witnesses for the defense and two rebuttal witnesses for the prosecution.
Deputy Attorney General Melissa Mandel finally entered the picture. Mandel cross-examined at least two of the four character witnesses. Mandel’s demeanor came across less than hospitable considering the witnesses had nothing to do with the situation.
Rex Gutierrez
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 22, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez denied allegations Tuesday that his former job at the San Bernardino County assessor’s office was a sham.
On the fifth day of testimony in his corruption trial, the defendant countered other witnesses who said he got the job as an intergovernmental relations officer as a favor through influential Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum, and that he did little actual work.
Rex Gutierrez
Gutierrez rejects Burum link to job
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/22/2010 08:08:23 PM PDT
Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez took the witness stand Tuesday in his own defense, denying allegations that his nearly two-year employment in the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office was political in nature and influenced by developer Jeff Burum.
Defense attorney James Reiss began presenting his case Tuesday in San Bernardino Superior Court in the trial of Gutierrez, 50, who is charged with felony grand theft, misappropriation of public funds and filing a false claim.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Rancho Cucamonga city councilman Rex Gutierrez testified today in his own defense.
Attorney Jim Reiss questioned Gutierrez about his background, namely his work history. In addition to his background history Gutierrez went over the process by which the city of Rancho Cucamonga and National CORE partner up. Defense attorney Reiss questioned Gutierrez about his lengthy relationship with developer Jeff Burum, that began around 1992. Throughout this relationship Burum and himself would keep in contact on a consistent basis, Gutierrez said.
Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez has taken the stand in his own defense this morning.
Gutierrez faces four felony counts related to allegations of time card fraud and a conspiracy to give him employment.
Monday, June 21, 2010
This mornings events at the trial of Rancho Cucamonga City councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez had the atmosphere of watching paint dry, until the lead District Attorney investigator on the case was questioned by defense attorney Jim Reiss.
Gutierrez is charged with four felonies related to alleged time card fraud and prosecution claims that his hiring by former Assessor Bill Postmus was a conspiracy orchestrated by Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum.
Gutierrez
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, June 21, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez and developer Jeff Burum exchanged seven phone calls while the City Council was hearing pitches from rival developers hoping to build on a 1,200-acre parcel, a district attorney’s investigator testified Monday.
Schyler Beaty, a senior investigator, said telephone records show the calls took place March 2, 2009. They occurred between presentations from different companies presenting plans for the highly sought-after surplus San Bernardino County land located in Rancho Cucamonga.
Gutierrez
Today starts week two of the trial of Rancho Cucamonga City councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez.
State and county prosecutors are attempting to weave a conspiracy theory with allegations of time card fraud allegedly committed by Gutierrez, while he was employed by Assessor Bill Postmus.
Prosecutors’ strategy may set stage for future trials
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 06/19/2010 06:14:18 PM PDT
The week-old trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez marks the first jury test of the theory by prosecutors that developer Jeff Burum engaged in a broad conspiracy to influence San Bernardino County officials and enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers.
Gutierrez, 50, is charged with felony grand theft, misappropriation of public funds and filing a false claim for allegedly performing political or city business while collecting a salary as an intergovernmental liaison in the county Assessor’s Office.
Gutierrez
Councilman’s work at issue
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 06/19/2010 10:06:49 PM PDT
Prosecutors and a defense attorney battled it out last week in San Bernardino Superior Court in the criminal trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez.
Prosecutors allege Gutierrez, 50, was hired at the county Assessor’s Office as a political favor to Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum and that Gutierrez spent county time furthering his political career.
You can usually tell a newspaper and their agenda when you contrast and compare stories by two reporters for two different newspapers, who are sitting in the same room.
The two newspapers in this case? The San Bernardino Sun/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and the Riverside Press Enterprise.
The subject? The corruption trial of former Assessor employee and Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez.
The reporters? Joe Nelson for The Sun and Richard K. De Atley for the Press Enterprise.
Aleman
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 15, 2010
By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY
The Press-Enterprise
The credibility of the prosecution’s star witness in its corruption case against former members of the San Bernardino County assessor’s office was attacked in court Tuesday after he testified about how a Rancho Cucamonga city councilman was hired as a favor for a developer.
Former assistant assessor Adam Aleman said the councilman, Rex Gutierrez, was made an intergovernmental affairs officer in 2007 by then-San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/15/2010 09:27:00 PM PDT
Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus refused to discipline a Rancho Cucamonga councilman who worked in his office because Postmus didn’t want to upset a prominent Rancho Cucamonga developer, according to court testimony Tuesday.
Instead, Postmus had his assistant assessor, Adam Aleman, produce a talking points memo regarding the work habits of Rex Gutierrez so Postmus could go over them with developer Jeff Burum, Aleman testified Tuesday in San Bernardino Superior Court on Day 2 of Gutierrez’s trial.
Gutierrez
By Mike Cruz
Posted: 06/09/2010 03:58:55 PM PDT
Jury selection got underway this morning in the criminal trial for Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez in connection with alleged malfeasance at the county Assessor’s Office.
Two panels of potential jurors were on tap for the jury selection process before Judge Duke Rouse in San Bernardino Superior Court. Gutierrez, 50, sat next to his lawyer James Reiss at the counsel table as the jurors entered the courtroom.
Yesterday’s pre-trial court hearing in the case against Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman and former Assessor’s employee Rex Gutierrez was interesting to say the least.
Between Friday and Monday’s proceedings you would have thought it was two different cases.
Aleman
(Wearing make-up)
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, June 7, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Attorneys offered a preview Monday of their arguments in the corruption trial of former San Bernardino County assessor’s official Rex Gutierrez as they prepare to begin the case this week.
Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse heard from prosecutors and defense attorneys regarding potentially significant witness testimony at a pre-trial hearing. Rouse denied a request by prosecutors to allow hearsay testimony from one of their key witnesses and put off a decision on what, if any testimony, influential Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum must provide.
Developer intends to take 5th in Gutierrez trial
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/07/2010 09:05:31 PM PDT
A lawyer for developer Jeff Burum said Monday that he advised Burum to assert his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself if called to testify in the criminal trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez.
Burum’s lawyer John Vandevelde made the revelation in San Bernardino Superior Court as trial proceedings began for Gutierrez, who faces felony charges stemming from an investigation into alleged malfeasance at the county Assessor’s Office.
Written by Administrator
June 7th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Today San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse denied without prejudice the People’s motion to allow hearsay into evidence in the trial of Rex Gutierrez. Gutierrez, who is charged with two counts of grand theft, one count of embezzlement, and one count of presenting a false claim. At the last moment, the People attempted to claim that Rancho Cucamonga businessman Jeff Burum conspired with former Assessor Bill Postmus to hire Gutierrez so that Burum would have him available to him. None of this was brought up during the preliminary hearing but instead appears to be a ploy to save this prosecution. However, neither Postmus, Gutierrez or Burum have been charged with this “conspiracy.”
Primary ballot filled with key local, statewide races
James Rufus Koren and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 06/05/2010 09:23:48 PM PDT
Two crowded Assembly races, a billionaire-on-multimillionaire gubernatorial battle and a fistful of county and judicial contests await voters in Tuesday’s primary election.
Most of the excitement on the ballot comes in nonpartisan races for county office and in Republican races for state offices.
Gutierrez
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, June 4, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
A former San Bernardino County assessor’s official will go to trial Monday with influential developer Jeff Burum among the witnesses expected to testify.
Prosecutors told Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse on Friday morning that they were ready to proceed with their case against Rex Gutierrez, 50, on charges of grand theft, misappropriation of public funds and filing a false claim.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 2, 2010
By DUG BEGLEY
The Press-Enterprise
Public confidence in San Bernardino County officials is at its lowest point in more than a decade, according to an annual survey released Wednesday.
Recent corruption scandals and a sluggish economic rebound have residents in the funk, according to the Inland Empire Annual Survey, and they are taking it out on local officials.
Uffer
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 26, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County’s former top administrator filed a wrongful termination lawsuit Wednesday, accusing supervisors of firing him in November because he was cooperating with corruption investigations.
The complaint was filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court a month after the county rejected an April 1 claim by former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer seeking $15 million in damages.
At some point you have to be amazed at the duplicity in the San Bernardino County government hierarchy.
I mean you can’t make this stuff up.
Finally, evidence has surfaced proving what county supervisors suspected all along. Their top legal advisor was breaching attorney-client privilege in February 2009.
Ramos
In a Press Enterprise story published this past week, opponents trying to unseat San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos lashed out at the two-term incumbent and provoked a response.
Challengers Frank Guzman and Bob Conaway hammered away at Ramos for his handling of corruption investigations and his womanizing within his department.
San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane ended a not so good week taking an ironic slap at a former friend and colleague.
The week started with a new controversy surrounding a complaint from Biane’s chief of staff Matt Brown. Brown claims he’s being harassed and retaliated against for cooperating with county investigators in a probe which has targeted his boss. Brown’s complaint letter made waves for Biane most of the week.
Then yesterday comes along this beauty of a campaign piece delivered to Second District mailboxes.
As if anyone with an ounce of intelligence couldn’t see it coming, the obvious was revealed this evening.
Matt Brown, Chief of Staff to Second District Supervisor Paul Biane has a civil attorney. The attorney being none other than Sanford Kassel.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/04/2010 06:16:05 PM PDT
The county on Tuesday launched an investigation into allegations that Matt Brown, chief of staff for Supervisor Paul Biane, has been subjected to repeated harassment and retaliation for cooperating with state and local prosecutors in a corruption probe.
In a letter addressed to his boss and carbon-copied to the other four members of the Board of Supervisors on Monday, Brown pleaded for the alleged misconduct to stop and said he has been under the care of a doctor for job-related stress.
10:09 PM PDT on Tuesday, May 4, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
The chief of staff to San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane revealed Monday that he has been cooperating with authorities in an ongoing corruption investigation and is facing retaliation as a result.
In a letter to Biane, Matt Brown states that he has been questioned by the district attorney and attorney general’s office and the grand jury about members of the Board of Supervisors. As a result, he said he has faced daily questions along with harassment and veiled threats about his job.
By Mike Cruz
Created: 05/03/2010 12:44:01 PM PDT
Former county Supervisor and Assessor Bill Postmus and co-defendant Gregory Eyler appeared briefly in Superior Court this morning on charges related to an investigation of malfeasance in the Assessor’s Office.
Eyler’s lawyer, Stanley Hodge, was unable to appear for the hearing in San Bernardino Superior Court. The lawyers and Judge Michael Dest agreed to return to court June 21 to determine if all parties are ready for a preliminary hearing on June 23.
Written by Administrator
May 3rd, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Last week’s turning over of discovery by San Bernardino County lead prosecutor Louis Cope to the defense counsel of former Assessor Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin has proven to be interesting, just as expected.
First and foremost, it is difficult to call the discovery “evidence,” unless one wants to term it “evidence of no wrongdoing.”
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, April 30, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
Now that they’ve done it, San Bernardino County supervisors’ decision to make a “limited waiver” of attorney-client privilege in the controversial $102 million Colonies settlement seems so obvious.
Why did it take two months to come up with such a simple solution?
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/30/2010 05:59:46 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Former county supervisor Bill Postmus has a new court-appointed attorney after the Public Defender’s Office declared a conflict in his alleged corruption case tied to the $102 million Colonies lawsuit settlement in 2006.
Judge Michael Dest appointed conflict panel lawyer Richard Farquhar, based in Redlands, to represent Postmus at a hearing Friday in San Bernardino Superior Court. Postmus’ previous court-appointed lawyer, Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lawrence, announced that his office could not represent the former supervisor.
The San Bernardino County Public Defender was replaced and outside counsel was appointed for former Assessor Bill Postmus this morning during a hearing in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
Judge Michael Dest barked at Postmus when Postmus attempted to inform the court he didn’t want to be represented by the conflict panel. Dest told Postmus something to the affect of if you don’t like it you can pay for your own attorney.
A review of online court records shows the case against Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and Former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin slated for the courtroom of Assigned Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse for all purposes.
Rouse is already assigned to the case filed against Erwin more than a year ago.
Rouse is currently under challenge from Erwin due to his ties to the law firm of Gresham, Savage, Nolan and Tilden, where Rouse was a partner until 2004.
Written by Administrator
April 28th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Friday shall prove to be interesting. Former San Bernardino County Assessor will be back in court regarding the appointment of the Public Defender’s Office to handle his defense.
There is a little bit of a problem with Doreen Boxer’s office handling the Postmus defense.
06:48 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Probe
Ending a standoff with state and local prosecutors, San Bernardino County supervisors agreed Tuesday to provide them with documents in the Colonies Partners legal settlement that is at the center of an extortion and bribery investigation.
The Board of Supervisors voted 3-0, with Supervisors Paul Biane and Gary Ovitt not participating, to a limited waiver of its legal privilege a week after prosecutors threatened to take the county to court.
April 27, 2010 3:01 PM
Natasha Lindstrom
SAN BERNARDINO • A week after State Attorney General Jerry Brown threatened to sue the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, three board members on Tuesday agreed to waive some of their attorney-client privileges to assist a wide-ranging corruption investigation.
“The board voted to approve a limited and restricted waiver of the attorney-client privilege to the District Attorney and the Attorney General’s office relative to the earlier litigation that culminated in a settlement agreement in November of 2006 … in the Colonies settlement matter,” County Counsel Ruth Stringer reported when the board emerged from closed session shortly after 2 p.m. “This waiver is restricted and limited to the prosecutors under California law and will only be used by the prosecutors in the criminal investigation and any resulting prosecutions.”
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/27/2010 08:49:27 PM PDT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to allow state and local prosecutors to examine confidential information from its litigation with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP to facilitate a corruption probe.
Board members Josie Gonzales, Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry voted 3-0 in favor of a “limited and restricted waiver” of the supervisors’ attorney-client privilege, which will allow prosecutors to examine documents from the case file and interview attorneys retained by the county during the heated litigation.
Prosecutors first requested the waiver on March 12 and then threatened legal action last week after two meetings with County Counsel Ruth Stringer and two closed-session meetings of the Board of Supervisors failed to produce a resolution.
07:41 AM PDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Former San Bernardino County assessor Bill Postmus and former assistant assessor Jim Erwin pleaded not guilty Monday to bribery and conspiracy charges.
Superior Court Judge Michael Dest entered the pleas on behalf of Postmus and Erwin, who are accused of taking part in a conspiracy that resulted in the Board of Supervisors approving a $102 million lawsuit settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners in November 2006.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/26/2010 05:22:15 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Former county Assessor Bill Postmus and his former assistant Jim Erwin were arraigned Monday on corruption charges in connection with an investigation by state and local prosecutors into the county’s $102 million Colonies lawsuit settlement in 2006.
Postmus and Erwin made a scheduled appearance before Judge Michael Dest in San Bernardino Superior Court, where the court entered not guilty pleas to all charges on behalf of the defendants, said Deputy District Attorney Lewis Cope, after the proceedings.
Former county supervisor appointed public defender
April 26, 2010 6:00 PM
Brooke Edwards
SAN BERNARDINO • Unable to afford his own attorney, former 1st District Supervisor Bill Postmus will attempt to fight multiple felony charges of bribery, embezzlement, drug abuse and more with the help of a court-appointed public defender.
“I have just gotten to the point of being totally broke due to the extensive legal battle with San Bernardino County,” Postmus said via e-mail, following the surprise announcement during his arraignment Monday morning.
Written by Administrator
April 26th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin were arragined today in Department S23 of the San Bernardino district of the Superior Court of California where Judge Michael M. Dest entered pleas of “not guilty” for both defendants. In addition to Raj Maline, counsel for Erwin, and Steve Levine, counsel for Postmus, Steve Harmon was present as a new member of the defense team.
Written by Administrator
April 26th, 2010 at 5:20 am
There is quite a potential for bombshells dropping this week in a number of ongoing corruption-related issues.
On Monday, we have the arraignment of former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and former Chief of Staff Jim Erwin. It is expected that the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office will turn over discovery for the case. This may very well prove to be interesting. First, the rumor that the District Attorney may ask for a gag order would be funny if it didn’t keep popping its ugly head up. If true, it begs the question, “What is the District Attorney trying to hide?” Well, that has birthed a few more rumors, the most prevalent of which is that among the discovery will be information showing that Second Supervisorial District Chief of Staff Matt Brown dropped a dime on his boss, Supervisor Paul Biane. Rumors of Matt’s pending termination have been running rampant for a couple of weeks now.
Role with developer goes unreported in state filing
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/25/2010 06:07:40 PM PDT
Dan Richards, a co-managing partner of Rancho Cucamonga-based developer Colonies Partners LP, failed to report his interest in the company on state public-disclosure forms for 2007 and 2008, records show.
Richards, a renowned commercial real estate broker appointed by the governor to the state Fish and Game Commission in February 2008, has been identified by state and local prosecutors as a co-conspirator in an alleged scheme to defraud San Bernardino County taxpayers by securing a $102 million legal settlement from the county in November 2006.
Executive Editor Frank Pine
Posted: 04/24/2010 07:03:10 PM PDT
In two days, San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors will decide whether to hand over to state and local prosecutors confidential information related to the county’s legal wrangling with Colonies Partners LP over a controversial land dispute.
The dispute was settled in 2006, when the board voted 3-2 to pay Colonies $102 million for legal expenses, land and flood-control improvements on the developer’s Upland property.
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, April 23, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
Tired of waiting, the state attorney general has issued an ultimatum to San Bernardino County supervisors: Either surrender the confidentiality of your lawyers’ advice on a controversial $102 million settlement, or we’ll see you in court.
In a strongly worded April 20 letter, Senior Assistant Attorney General Gary W. Schons expressed frustration with the “unacceptable delay” holding up his office’s criminal investigation into whether the settlement with Colonies Partners was tainted by corruption.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Created: 04/22/2010 07:28:42 PM PDT
San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt appears to hold the decisive vote in a requested waiver of attorney-client privilege in an investigation by state and local prosecutors in the Colonies lawsuit settlement.
Supervisors Neil Derry and Josie Gonzales seem ready to approve the request while Supervisors Paul Biane and Gary Ovitt, who voted in favor of the 2006 settlement payment of $102 million to a Rancho Cucamonga developer, have recused themselves from upcoming vote and have denied any wrongdoing.
07:43 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 21, 2010
By IMRAN CHORI
The Press-Enterprise
State and local prosecutors are threatening to take San Bernardino County supervisors to court to compel them to release documents in the Colonies Partners legal settlement that is at the center of an extortion and bribery investigation.
The San Bernardino County district attorney and state attorney general’s offices are seeking access to legal documents and attorneys hired by the county as part of an investigation alleging that the $102 million settlement with Colonies Partners was part of an illegal conspiracy involving extortion and $400,000 in bribes.
Written by Administrator
April 21st, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Our county’s resident lying snitch is at it again. Yes that’s right. Pinocchio aka Confidential Informant No. 1 aka the yellow singing Canary, aka Adam Aleman is bragging once again about the testimony he gave to the San Bernardino County Grand Jury this past Monday and Tuesday. Now, he has already pissed the Grand Jury off once by altering evidence he sent to them. That brought about just a few felonies. Now, he seems to have forgotten he is not supposed to be telling us all what was said during the hearing.
But, this is the brash young Mr. Aleman and he can’t help himself.
Postmus
Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus was under pressure from county administrators and supervisors in 2007 and 2008 to limit reductions in assessed property valuations.
The concern at the time was that Postmus was going to bring down assessed property values in accordance with Proposition 8 at a faster pace than desired.
We have five defendants, Jim Erwin, Bill Postmus, Rex Gutierrez, Greg Eyler, and Dino DiFazio. So, we have five criminal defense attorneys; five criminal defense attorneys who have reviewed the discovery provided by the District Attorney’s Office; five criminal defense attorneys who have compared notes; five criminal defense attorneys who have come to realize that Confidential Informant No. 1, our favorite yellow singing Canary extraordinaire, “persona au gratin,” one half of the team known as “Hansel and Gretel,” none other than the young Mr. Adam Aleman has a problem with the truth.
This is hardly new news to readers of this blog. But there is a new twist.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/11/2010 09:57:55 PM PDT
Two years after settling a contentious lawsuit with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP for $102 million, the county paid $6.4 million for a building in which Colonies co-managing partner Jeff Burum had a financial interest.
Former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer said he learned from a staff member of Supervisor Paul Biane in March 2008 that then-county Assessor Bill Postmus was interested in purchasing the building on the southeast corner of Haven Avenue and Arrow Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga, which Postmus planned to use for office space.
Written by Administrator
April 10th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
I really need to stop reading former San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer’s Claim Against the County. Every time I do, I find something new. Like tonight I came across the email from Postmus to Biane calling Biane a POS. That was too funny.
Something else was pointed out to me today that got me reading the thing again. That was some more of the questions Mark Uffer suggested the Grand Jury ask Mark Kirk.
10:31 PM PDT on Monday, April 5, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
State and local prosecutors may be closer to reaching an agreement with San Bernardino County over the release of documents in the Colonies Partners legal settlement.
San Bernardino County Assistant District Attorney James Hackleman and state Senior Assistant Attorney General Gary Schons met with County Counsel Ruth Stringer for 2½ hours on Monday, continuing a discussion begun last week.
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, April 2, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI and DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County supervisors and their staffs regularly bypassed their top administrator to deal directly with county departments, worked to secure no-bid contracts for individual projects and threatened employees with their jobs.
That’s the picture former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer paints in a detailed claim filed against the county on Thursday.
Uffer, ousted late last year on a 3-2 vote, is seeking $15 million in damages and accuses the county of wrongful termination, defamation and fraud. He said he was retaliated against for cooperating with the grand jury and an ongoing district attorney’s investigation.
Story continues below
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/02/2010 07:25:51 PM PDT
Former San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer has filed a $15 million claim against the county, alleging he was fired in November in retaliation for cooperating with authorities in an ongoing corruption probe.
The claim, filed this week, names county supervisors Gary Ovitt, Neil Derry and Brad Mitzelfelt, Ovitt’s chief of staff Mark Kirk, Derry’s former chief of staff Jim Erwin and former county supervisor Bill Postmus.
Ovitt, Mitzelfelt and Derry voted in favor of his ouster Nov. 17.
April 02, 2010 8:38 PM
NATASHA LINDSTROM, staff writer
SAN BERNARDINO • The former top county administrator ousted four months ago has filed a $15 million claim accusing supervisors of wrongful termination and a host of unlawful acts.
Mark Uffer, who was suddenly fired by the county Board of Supervisors “for no cause” on a Nov. 17 split vote, blames supervisors and their top staffers for retaliating against him after he cooperated with the county grand jury and District Attorney’s office.
Uffer
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, April 1, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County’s former top administrator filed a claim Thursday accusing supervisors of firing him in November in retaliation for his cooperation with prosecutors and the grand jury in ongoing corruption investigations.
Former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer is seeking $15 million in damages, alleging wrongful termination, defamation, breach of contracts and fraud.
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, April 1, 2010
By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO – The 37th state Senate District is entirely within Riverside County, but San Bernardino County has a major role in the political backgrounds of the two leading GOP candidates on the April 13 special election ballot.
Over the years, Assemblyman Bill Emmerson and former Assemblyman Russ Bogh have had ties to the people and places at the center of San Bernardino County’s months-long corruption drama.
Information regarding the Colonies litigation is trickling out and what is being said is not surprising at all.
While state and county prosecutors work to obtain access to privileged legal discussions and materials in an effort to prove their corruption case, InlandPolitics has developed a few fragments of what is being described as a tense litigation process.
While the revelations covered in this story have been briefly touched on over the past several months, a little more clarity is appearing.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
Stepping aside from discussions on whether to give prosecutors legal documents in the Colonies settlement was the right move for San Bernardino County supervisors Paul Biane and Gary Ovitt.
Both voted in favor of the controversial $102 million settlement in 2006; Biane and Ovitt’s chief of staff are unnamed co-conspirators in alleged criminal wrongdoing.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/23/2010 08:40:05 PM PDT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday that it will not release confidential attorney-client information to prosecutors from the county’s four-year legal battle with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP.
State and local prosecutors had asked the board to waive its attorney-client privilege so authorities can interview attorneys and examine documents from the case to determine if the controversial $102 million settlement with the developer in November 2006 was justified.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/23/2010 07:20:00 PM PDT
The state Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday voted to advance proposed legislation that would provide San Bernardino County with additional grand juries to investigate local government.
Sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, the legislation, if passed by the full legislature and signed by the Governor, would allow San Bernardino County’s presiding judge to impanel two grand juries solely to probe complaints about local government.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/18/2010 06:12:46 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Former county Supervisor Bill Postmus appeared briefly Thursday morning in Superior Court on felony charges related to an investigation into the multi-million dollar Colonies lawsuit settlement.
Postmus, 38, of Victorville was scheduled to enter pleas on five felony counts ranging from conspiracy to receiving a bribe and embezzlement.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 17, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
State and local prosecutors are seeking legal documents from San Bernardino County’s 2006 settlement with Colonies Partners as part of their investigation into whether the $102 million agreement was part of an illegal conspiracy.
In a letter delivered to supervisors Tuesday, the California attorney general’s office and San Bernardino County district attorney asked the Board of Supervisors to waive its attorney-client privilege in the Colonies litigation and make available all the relevant documents.
Information coming out related to the corruption probe being conducted by the San Bernardino County District Attorney is raising serious questions this morning.
Sources with knowledge into one of the cases says information turned over to the defense for High Desert developer John DeFazio may clear him of charges.
10:14 PM PST on Monday, March 8, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane is proposing that the county suspend its lawsuit against three agencies to recover damages over a $102 million lawsuit settlement — the same settlement that has lead to two bribery and extortion arrests
Biane said the Board of Supervisors will consider the proposal to halt the lawsuit for now in closed session at its March 23 meeting.
10:00 PM PST on Monday, March 8, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
An Apple Valley businessman accused of lying about his financial ties to former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus made his first court appearance Monday morning.
John Dino DeFazio, 50, was arrested by district attorney investigators Feb. 25 and charged with two felony counts of perjury stemming from sworn testimony he gave to a grand jury last fall. Prosecutors contend he lied about a political action committee they say was secretly controlled by Postmus.
Bill Postmus
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/06/2010 09:14:16 PM PST
In 2008, the San Bernardino County Grand Jury released a scathing report of the Assessor’s Office, citing egregious hiring practices and a lack of qualified staff under the reign of then-Assessor Bill Postmus.
It triggered a criminal investigation by the District Attorney’s Office that ultimately led to Postmus’ downfall.
Postmus came under fire for hiring political consultant and friend Michael Richman to do public relations work for the office under a no-bid purchase order contract.
March 03, 2010 6:38 PM
By NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO • Amid allegations that former county Assessor Bill Postmus battled a methamphetamine addiction, condoned rampant timecard fraud and tapped unqualified cronies to run a political operation on county time, an independent state review has found that day-to-day operations under Postmus ran smoothly.
The Board of Equalization released an assessment practices survey into the Assessor’s office highlighting several electronic upgrades that improved efficiency and concluding that most operations ran effectively with Postmus in charge.
County calls another probe ‘unnecessary, premature’
March 03, 2010 6:41 PM
By NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO • The San Bernardino County transportation planning agency SANBAG on Wednesday urged county supervisors to launch an independent investigation into themselves, with a current supervisor and chief of staff recently linked as possible co-conspirators in the largest bribery scandal in county history.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/03/2010 06:07:46 PM PST
San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), the county’s transportation planning agency, passed a resolution Wednesday demanding that the county commissionan independent investigation of its $102 million legal settlement with a Rancho Cucamonga developer in November 2006.
Cassie MacDuff
10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
What never made sense to me about San Bernardino County’s $102 million settlement with Colonies Partners — besides the price tag — was why county officials gave up a fight they seemed to have a fair chance of winning.
In 2003, a judge in Rancho Cucamonga ruled against the county in the dispute with Colonies over a flood-control basin on the company’s land in Upland.
But in 2005, the state Court of Appeal overturned it, ruling in favor of the county on some issues and sending others back to a local court.
In July 2006, a different local judge ruled against the county even more strongly than the Rancho Cucamonga judge had.
Bill Postmus
11:06 PM PST on Tuesday, March 2, 2010
By JIM MILLER
Sacramento County
Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Probe
SACRAMENTO – Authorities allege that former San Bernardino County official Bill Postmus used methamphetamine, ran a political operation on government time and was at the center of a bribery scheme that cost county taxpayers $102 million.
But when it came to the day-to-day operations of the Postmus-led San Bernardino County assessor’s office, most everything seemed to run by the book, according to a new state report.
Nearly $450,000 paid to law firm as of Tuesday
March 02, 2010 5:02 PM
Natasha Lindstrom
SAN BERNARDINO • County supervisors on Tuesday lifted the $500,000 spending limit on the law firm hired to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages from former county Assessor Bill Postmus and five others the county has accused of abusing county resources.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors did not set a new spending cap on Tuesday “because the county has no idea how much the litigation is going to cost,” county spokesman David Wert said. He said it’s possible the amount spent on the Los Angeles law firm of Irella & Manella could exceed the amount of damages the county’s seeking to recoup.
Extra grand juries?
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/02/2010 09:09:32 PM PST
The San Bernardino County Grand Jury first pointed out trouble in the county Assessor’s Office under Bill Postmus. One of three county grand juries could uncover the next county scandal.
Area lawmakers have proposed a state bill that would give San Bernardino County’s presiding judge the power to appoint up to three grand juries to investigate government corruption and other issues.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/01/2010 02:58:28 PM PST
District Attorney Michael A. Ramos called for tighter regulation of political action committees as a way to combat corruption, but some county supervisors questioned whether they have the authority.
Supervisor Neil Derry said local governments cannot impose tighter restrictions on state-regulated PACs. He said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that found it unconstitutional to place limits on how much corporations and unions can directly give to city elections has prompted the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles to lift contribution limits in their cities.
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/01/2010 05:29:49 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – The Board of Supervisors is poised to increase funding to a law firm to represent the county in its civil case against former Assessor Bill Postmus.
The board today will consider lifting the spending cap for the county’s contract with attorney John C. Hueston’s firm, Irell & Manella, LLP.
Last spring the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors embarked on a “score some political points” statement. One that would make them look like corruption fighters.
County supervisors were going to show residents accountability was at hand. The board voted 5-0 to initiate litigation against Former Assessor Bill Postmus and his staff to recover taxpayer funds related to time card fraud. The support for filing the lawsuit was the county’s success at recovering from individuals and businesses related to misconduct in the late 1990′s.
What supervisors received for their vote this time can best be described as a “legal boondoggle”.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/26/2010 06:29:20 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – A motion filed by Rancho Cucamonga councilman Rex Gutierrez to dismiss his criminal charges was denied Friday morning by a Superior Court judge, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Judge Douglas Gericke denied the Penal Code section 995 motion during a scheduled appearance for Gutierrez in San Bernardino Superior Court. The charges stem from an investigation into alleged misconduct in the county Assessor’s Office, where Gutierrez formerly worked as intergovernmental relations officer.
This morning a Superior Court Judge denied a procedural motion to dismiss all four felony counts against Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez.
The charges stem from Gutierrez’s employment with the San Bernardino County Assessor’s office in 2007-08.
The commencement date of the estimated ten day trial is set for April 12, 2010
10:15 PM PST on Thursday, February 25, 2010
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County prosecutors, along with the state attorney general’s office, on Thursday charged a longtime friend of former Assessor Bill Postmus with two counts of perjury.
John Dino DeFazio, 50, of Apple Valley, was arrested by district attorney investigators and booked at the Victor Valley sheriff’s station. Bail was set at $50,000.
So our illustrious San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos is concerned about expenses paid by former Assessor Bill Postmus out of Postmus’ campaign war chest—not exactly new news.
Aleman
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/20/2010 02:44:02 PM PST
It’s been more than a year since Adam Aleman has been able to truly relax.
“I always instinctively peek around the corner to see who’s there,” Aleman said Friday. “I’m always aware of my surroundings.”
Since June 2008, the 27-year-old former assistant assessor for San Bernardino County has been up to his neck in criminal charges after allegedly lying to a Grand Jury, falsifying records and destroying a government laptop.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/19/2010 08:50:44 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – County supervisors spent $22,500 last month to sweep their offices and other parts of the government center for secret recording devices and other hidden surveillance equipment.
The first sweep of the fourth and fifth floors of the county building occurred Jan. 23, and the purchase order provides for four more sweeps at undisclosed future dates.
Posted by Administrator at 18 February 2010
The most recent arrests of former San Bernardino County Assessor William “Bill” Postmus and former Chief of Staff to Supervisor Neil Derry, James Erwin, highlights yet again the disparity in treatment by San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos when compared with other jurisdictions. Ramos clearly is attempting to “punish” those who are political adversaries upfront as he knows the cases against them are weak and convictions are unlikely.
Take a look at the difference between the Postmus/Erwin case and the case of the four San Jacinto City Councilmen who were recently indicted in Riverside County. The disparity is glaring.
Allegations of improper contributions tied to votes in the case filed by San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos and Attorney General Edmund “Jerry” Brown will likely take many twists and turns during the evidentiary, discovery and trial phases.
One defense aspect undoubtedly will be to bring in other examples of local legislative votes and the timing of campaign contributions by the related benefactors of those votes.
10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
Lawyers for two former San Bernardino County officials accused of bribery, conspiracy, extortion and other felonies came out swinging this week against the witness on whose testimony the case hinges.
In separate phone interviews Wednesday, lawyers for former county Supervisor Bill Postmus and former assistant assessor Jim Erwin attacked the credibility of their clients’ former assessor’s office colleague, Adam Aleman.
By Joe Nelson
Posted: 02/16/2010 03:52:28 PM PST
The county will put off suing a Rancho Cucamonga developer and defendants in an ongoing corruption probe by the District Attorney and state Attorney General’s offices, the Board of Supervisors announced today.
The board met in closed session this afternoon to receive a briefing from county counsel relative to the issues concerning initiation of litigation regarding the Nov. 28, 2006 $102 million settlement between the county and Colonies Partners LP over flood control improvements at the Colonies Crossroads residential/commercial development in Upland.
Current supervisor, chief of staff targeted as ‘co-conspirators’
February 15, 2010 5:28 PM
Natasha Lindstrom
SAN BERNARDINO • The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is holding a special meeting Tuesday to discuss recent developments in the ongoing corruption probe that now targets a current supervisor and chief of staff as unindicted co-conspirators.
Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales called for the emergency meeting last week, shortly after District Attorney Michael A. Ramos and state Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. held a joint press conference Wednesday to announce new charges in what they called the largest corruption scandal in the county and possibly California.
Supervisor Paul Biane
11:34 PM PST on Sunday, February 14, 2010
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
In summer 2007, San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane became concerned that improper political activity was taking place inside the office of then-Assessor Bill Postmus.
Biane, then Board of Supervisors chairman, directed staff to turn over to prosecutors copies of e-mails showing that political campaign work was being done on county computers and on county time in the assessor’s office.
11:40 PM PST on Saturday, February 13, 2010
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County faces a $90 million budget shortfall for next fiscal year, leaving supervisors grappling with ways to overcome it. Widespread budget cuts are likely.
Starting this week, supervisors must begin adjusting to work with a new county administrative officer, his new leadership style and other possible management changes he may want.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/13/2010 05:02:59 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – When county supervisors gather Tuesday to decide what to do about the massive government corruption alleged by state and local prosecutors, four of the five board members say they will remain objective despite close personal ties to the scandal’s key figures and events.
Last week’s arrests of former county Supervisor Bill Postmus and former assistant assessor Jim Erwin raised new questions about the county’s $102 million payout to settle a lawsuit with developer Colonies Partners four years ago.
District Attorney Mike Ramos
11:01 PM PST on Thursday, February 11, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos is raising concerns that the latest charges in a corruption investigation, now implicating two county supervisors, could result in budgetary reprisals.
Ramos said Wednesday after announcing new charges against a former county supervisor and a former assistant assessor that he was concerned that supervisors, to thwart the investigation, might remove key staff from his department through budget cuts.
PROBE: Declaration for arrest warrants detail lavish China trips, extortion threats
11:01 PM PST on Thursday, February 11, 2010
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
A lavish business trip to China, prostitutes, bribes, blackmail and drug abuse are elements of a corruption case laid out in a declaration filed to justify arrest warrants for former San Bernardino County public officials Bill Postmus and Jim Erwin.
In a declaration based on witness interviews and investigation, Hollis D. Randles, a senior investigator with the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office, describes an elaborate, years-long campaign to persuade or coerce county supervisors into approving a $102 million lawsuit settlement with a developer identified as John Doe No. 1.
James Rufus Koren and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 02/11/2010 09:21:37 PM PST
San Bernardino County prosecutors involved in the conspiracy case against former county Assessor Bill Postmus and Jim Erwin, a former assistant assessor, aim to show how easily political action committees can be used to launder payoffs to public officials.
Prosecutors say a handful of PACs controlled by Postmus, Erwin and others were used to funnel bribes from the development group Colonies Partners. The bribes, prosecutors say, were in exchange for support of a $102 million settlement approved by county supervisors in 2006.
11:04 PM PST on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI, DUANE W. GANG and JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
California Attorney General Jerry Brown and San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos announced sweeping charges Wednesday in a corruption case involving county supervisors, their staff and a politically connected developer.
Prosecutors filed criminal charges — including bribery, conspiracy and extortion — against Bill Postmus, 38, a former county supervisor and assessor; and Jim Erwin, 47, a former assistant assessor and former chief of staff to a county supervisor.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/10/2010 05:33:52 PM PST
UPLAND – Some Upland City Council members view the charges filed against two former county officials to be a sad day for the county’s citizens, while calling for a fresh start for county government.
Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and Jim Erwin, former assistant assessor of operations, were arrested Wednesday by sheriff’s deputies as part of an ongoing investigation into public corruption.
Mike Cruz and Will Bigham, Staff Writers
Posted: 02/10/2010 06:59:02 PM PST
During a news conference to discuss the prosecutions of Bill Postmus and Jim Erwin in an alleged corruption scandal, District Attorney Michael A. Ramos said that getting the money back is a priority.
Ramos cited the tough economic times and said the millions in public funds are particularly critical at a time when county employees are facing furloughs.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/10/2010 09:50:01 PM PST
Prosecutors charged two former county officials with conspiracy, bribery and extortion on Wednesday in what was described as the “biggest corruption scandal in San Bernardino County’s history.”
Former Assessor Bill Postmus, 38, of Victorville and former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin, 47, of Highland were arrested by district attorney’s investigators early Wednesday morning and booked into jail in lieu of $225,000 bail and $380,000 bail, respectively.
I’m sure that is what the reporter who called me a little while ago regarding Former Assessor Bill Postmus’ and Former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin’s early morning arrests was thinking. Well, yes, as a matter of fact I do believe this is just another attempt by a desperate district attorney to be re-elected and a governor-wannabe-again feeling the pressure from Meg Whitman.
Ramos will do anything to deflect from his own misdeeds. And time will prove these charges are as trumped up as the last ones.
One thing comes to mind here and that is something Postmus keeps telling me. He claims this whole corruption scandal is the result of Mike Ramos wanting to get at Jeff Burum. He thought Erwin would roll on Jeff the first time. If anything, their friendship seems stronger. I expect today’s event to strengthen it even more.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Administrator at 8 February 2010
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
˜Eighth Amendment, Constitution of the United States˜
Today’s hearing in which Michael Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, entered a plea of not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges and bail was set at $75,000, three times the usual bail for an involuntary manslaughter charge, begs a comparison to San Bernardino County’s own high-profile prosecutions. Those, of course, are the Jim Erwin and Bill Postmus criminal cases.
InlandPolitics.com has learned that the outside law firm hired by county supervisors to handle litigation against former Assessor Bill Postmus and five others has already exceeded its budget with little or nothing to show for it.
Attorneys John Hueston and Leeran Factor from the law firm of Irell and Manella were given an appropriation limit of $500,000 by county supervisors last spring. A number already well above any potential recovery in the litigation.
Published January 22, 1010
There has been a significant change in the manner in which the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office is handling suspected or alleged violations of the state’s income disclosure requirements.
Within the last month, San Bernardino County prosecutors have opted to refer such cases to the California Fair Political Practices Commission, a departure from the office’s past approach of filing criminal charges against those who have made no or inadequate disclosure of outside income.