Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 09/23/16 – 4:08 PM PDT |
The attorney for McStay family murder suspect Charles “Chase” Merritt told a San Bernardino Superior Court judge Friday he cannot begin trial until he finishes defending another client in a public corruption case, scheduled to begin Oct. 17 and last seven months.
Thursday, September 22, 2016 – 08:45 a.m.
Yes. It was bound to happen.
Los Angeles-Based KNBC-TV has picked up coverage of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department ticket quota whistle-blower lawsuit.
By Brian Rokos, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 09/20/16 – 6:55 PM PDT |
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is not commenting on a photo shown in court as part of an ongoing civil trial that a plaintiff says shows a deputy dressed in a Grinch costume intentionally and illegally driving a patrol car through a stoplight in Victorville to prompt a red-light camera to snap a souvenir picture.
By Beatriz Valenzuela, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 09/19/16 – 6:35 PM PDT | U
SAN BERNARDINO >> A San Bernardino County sheriff’s lieutenant testified during a civil whistleblower-retaliation trial Monday he tried to quash a “petty citations war” between two High Desert sheriff’s stations.
By Kristina Hernandez, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 09/16/16 – 7:34 PM PDT |
HIGHLAND >> Three public interest groups on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the city of Highland over its approval of the controversial Harmony housing project.
By Brian Rokos, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 09/14/16 – 10:15 PM PDT |
A San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy testified Wednesday that he was removed from a prestigious motorcycle traffic-enforcement assignment after he criticized what he characterized as a supervisor’s illegal traffic-ticket quota and continued to cite Victorville elected officials, city officials and off-duty deputies over that same supervisor’s objections.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 – 09:00 a.m.
The long-awaited trial involving a traffic ticket quota system employed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is now underway.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 09/09/16 – 12:25 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Prosecutors and defense attorneys in San Bernardino County’s biggest public corruption case announced Friday that after years of legal wrangling, they are ready to begin trial.
By Brian Rokos / Staff Writer
Published: Aug. 24, 2016
Updated: Aug. 25, 2016 6:24 a.m.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of former Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach after he did not show up in court Tuesday, Aug. 23, to testify about the approval of a wiretap that prompted authorities to charge a man with possessing illegal drugs.
Howard Blume and Joy Resmovits
August 23, 2016
Monday was the end of the line for a landmark California case challenging tenure and other traditional job protections for teachers — and the teachers won.
By David Danelski and and Gail Wesson, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 08/19/16 – 11:20 PM PDT |
The seven former Beaumont city officials charged in May with 94 felony corruption counts, including embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, each pleaded not guilty to all charges against them Friday.
By Imran Ghori / Staff Writer
Published: Aug. 18, 2016 – Updated: 8:55 p.m.
A judge has denied a request by opponents of the World Logistics Center to block two initiatives aimed at shielding the 40.6 million-square-foot warehouse complex from legal challenges.
By Sean Emery / Staff Writer
Aug. 17, 2016 – Updated 10:08 p.m.
SANTA ANA – An Orange County judge offered to remove himself from a murder trial Wednesday, only to learn that attorneys on both sides want him to stay on a case that involves allegations of prosecutors falsifying evidence.
By Tony Saavedra / Staff Writer
Aug. 15, 2016
Updated Aug. 16, 2016 – 7:25 a.m.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals threw a curve Monday to lawyers seeking removal of the District Attorney’s Office from a murder case following allegations of falsifying and withholding evidence.
By Cassie MacDuff, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 08/14/16 – 2:11 PM PDT |
Baffling. That’s all that can be said about the state Senate Appropriations Committee killing a bill last week that would have addressed a critical shortage of judges in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Paul Pringle and Rong-Gong Lin II
August 6, 2016
The alleged bribes and kickbacks that prosecutors said flowed like honey between government officials at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and people who did business at the venerable stadium exceeded $2 million — cash that belonged to the taxpayers.
Rong-Gong Lin II, Paul Pringle and Marisa Gerber
August 4, 2016
Two concert promoters accused in a bribery-and-embezzlement scheme involving raves at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will avoid serving any jail time under a plea bargain with prosecutors who acknowledged, for the second time, that they mishandled evidence in the high-profile corruption case.
By Shea Johnson, Staff Writer
Posted Aug. 1, 2016 at 3:15 PM
Updated Aug 1, 2016 at 5:44 PM
Three current or former deputies who say they were rebuked for disclosing an alleged impound and ticket quota scheme entrenched within two High Desert sheriff’s stations will have their days in court.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.
A civil lawsuit filed by current and former deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department will advance to trial.
By Tony Saavedras, Staff Writer
July 22, 2016
The American Civil Liberties Union sent volunteer watchers into local courtrooms Friday, a move aimed at bringing attention to what the civil rights group describes as routine cheating by prosecutors in Orange County.
By Jim Steinberg, The Sun
Posted: 07/20/16 – 12:16 AM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> The sewage treatment plant proposed by the Highland-based East Valley Water District will cost at least $150 million more to build that has been planned, San Bernardino Municipal Water Department officials say.
By Imran Ghori / Staff WRiter
Published: June 17, 2016
Updated: June 18, 2016 – 6:30 a.m.
A legal battle over the World Logistics Center will continue through at least the summer as opponents and Moreno Valley square off over whether the city violated state law in approving three developer-backed initiatives.
By Jeff Horseman / Staff Writer
Published: June 13, 2016
Updated: June 14, 2016 – 9:12 a.m.
The Inland region’s chronic shortage of judges is now caught in a political tug-of-war between a plan favored by Gov. Jerry Brown and another favored by Democratic lawmakers.
Associated Press
Posted: 06/11/2016 – 11:47:28 PM PDT
Updated: 06/11/2016 – 11:48:01 PM PDT
SANTA ANA — Authorities in Orange County have acknowledged an extensive log detailing the handling of jailhouse informants was kept by sheriff’s deputies but never released despite court hearings last year over the use of snitches in the high-profile case of a mass killer.
Tony Saavedra / Staff Writer
June 9, 2016 – Updated 10:49 p.m.
Secret notes kept by Orange County sheriff’s deputies on jailhouse informants appear to contradict testimony given by deputies during legal hearings for confessed Seal Beach mass murderer Scott Dekraai, prosecutors said late Thursday.
Posted by Katy Grimes
June 01, 2016 – 06:43 am
A legal tale of drama rivaling the magnitude of the infamous 2006 Duke Lacrosse rape case, has been dragging on in California courts for more than seven years. But the case could now be tossed out, on charges that prosecutors with the State Attorney General’s office destroyed the evidence they had been withholding from an indicting Grand Jury.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 06/03/16 – 9:17 PM PDT |
Officials with the labor union representing San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies said Friday that prison realignment and a shortage of deputies has prompted a safety campaign that has delayed the transport of inmates to court.
By Tony Saavedra / Staff Writer
June 1, 2016 – Updated 10:10 p.m.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris is talking a lot these days in her bid to become a U.S. senator, but one subject she’s not mentioning is her complex role in Orange County’s highest-profile criminal case – the penalty phase in the trial of confessed mass murderer Scott Dekraai.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 05/27/16 – 11:28 AM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> A defense attorney’s bid to get the San Bernardino County’s Colonies corruption case dismissed was rescheduled Friday until July 15.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 05/26/16 – 3:29 PM PDT |
Another motion seeking dismissal of San Bernardino County’s Colonies public corruption case will be heard Friday in San Bernardino Superior Court, this time on grounds prosecutors with the state Attorney General’s Office did not save e-mails a defense attorney maintains were evidence.
Thursday, May 26, 2016 – 02:00 p.m.
Will the third time be the charm for Robb Quincey?
By Richard K. De Atley, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 05/20/16 – 9:02 PM PDT |
With $122.5 million in possible fines and restitution in the Beaumont corruption case, prosecutors are trying to secure the homes and bank accounts of some defendants — former top city officials charged with embezzlement and misappropriation of funds.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 05/19/16 – 5:07 PM PDT |
A defense attorney in San Bernardino County’s Colonies corruption case has filed a motion in Superior Court seeking dismissal of the case on grounds that prosecutors destroyed evidence.
Published: May 18, 2016
Updated: May 19, 2016 6:46 a.m.
On Tuesday, May 17, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office charged seven former officials with the city of Beaumont with 94 felonies and misappropriation of $43 million in taxpayer funds.
Public records show how Beaumont city officials tapped into millions in bond money.
To read Staff Reports in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Tony Saavedra / Staff Writer
Published: May 9, 2016
Updated: May 10, 2016 7:39 a.m.
Convicted double murderer Henry Rodriguez was released on bail Monday after 18 years in prison, another felony case upended because of questions related to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office’s use of jailhouse informants.
Erika Aguilar
May 05, 2016 – 09:36 PM
Orange County sheriff’s officials have assigned an investigative sergeant to monitor how and if jailhouse informants will be used with the Sheriff’s consultation after deputies failed to disclose records to the court on the department’s inmate informant program.
Luke Money
April 29, 2016
Two private investigators can be tried on charges of false imprisonment and conspiracy in connection with a fake DUI report against a Costa Mesa city councilman in 2012, an Orange County judge ruled Friday.
By Brian Rokos, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 04/26/16 – 12:25 AM PDT |
A Phelan man was arrested Monday nine months after authorities say he drove off with a U.S. Forest Service investigator hanging from the car window at a wildfire base camp in Victorville.
The investigator fired shots at the man but missed.
By Matthew Cabe
Staff Writer
Follow @@DP_MatthewCabe
Posted Apr. 21, 2016 at 12:16 PM
APPLE VALLEY — A lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of San Bernardino alleges Proposition 218 violations related to Apple Valley’s Wastewater Division, which provides sewer service to more than 22,000 town residents.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 04/18/16 – 2:44 PM PDT |
A former Los Angeles County social worker recently charged in connection with the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez has been working on child custody cases in San Bernardino County for more than two years, a court spokesman said Monday.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 04/18/16 – 2:29 PM PDT |
Christina M. Volkers, court executive officer for San Bernardino County Superior Court, has been placed on administrative leave, court spokesman Dennis Smith confirmed Monday.
By Brian Rokos, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 04/14/16 – 1:21 PM PDT |
A state judicial panel has proposed redistributing vacant judgeships from counties where there are too many to counties where there are too few, including Riverside and San Bernardino counties, where a lack of judges has caused hundreds of cases to be dismissed.
By Matthew Cabe
Staff Writer
Follow @@DP_MatthewCabe
Posted: Apr. 13, 2016 at 5:48 PM
Updated: April 14, 2016 at 8:43 AM
SAN BERNARDINO — A jury voted 11-1 Monday to award a former San Bernardino County Fire Department division chief more than $700,000 in damages related to an age discrimination case against the county and its fire department, according to the plaintiff’s attorneys.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.
**Verdict Form PDF has been fixed***
A jury award in an unlawful termination case against San Bernardino County speaks volumes as to why the county, up until now, has never taken cases to trial in recent history.
By Shea Johnson
Staff Writer
Follow @@DP_Shea
Posted Apr. 12, 2016 at 4:25 PM
SAN BERNARDINO — Attorney fees could rise above $1 million in the county’s lawsuit against the architectural and design firms of the High Desert Detention Center expansion in Adelanto, which was completed in February 2014 after falling nearly $29 million over budget.
By Matthew Cabe, Staff Writer
Posted Mar. 23, 2016 – Updated at 11:18 PM
SAN BERNARDINO — Public access to online criminal court records in San Bernardino County has significantly decreased as of late.
By Shea Johnson
Staff Writer
Posted Mar. 19, 2016 at – 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 19, 2016 at – 6:57 PM
More than $5 million in settlements were paid out in San Bernardino County between 1989 and 2012 for “faulty” felony convictions, according to a UC Berkley School of Law study.
Christopher Goffard
March 15, 2016
Attorneys for a man accused in a Lake Forest assault have asked that the Orange County district attorney’s office be thrown off the case, citing “a pattern of intimidation” against defense witnesses — most recently when one of the district attorney’s investigators bloodied an attorney in a courthouse hallway.
Published: March 11, 2016
Updated: March 13, 2016 – 7:48 p.m.
Between 1989 and 2012, Riverside and San Bernardino counties paid a combined $10,653,000 in settlements and legal fees in 193 cases where defendants claimed they were wrongfully arrested or prosecuted.
To read article by Brian Rokos in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Paige St. John
March 11, 2016
A study of more than 600 overturned felony convictions in California calculates the cost of those botched cases to taxpayers at more than $220 million over two decades.
By Sean Emery, Tony Saavedra and Scott Schwebke / Staff Writers
March 11, 2016 – Updated 8:04 a.m.
SANTA ANA – An Orange County defense attorney on Thursday launched an online petition calling for the arrest of a district attorney’s investigator involved in a courthouse altercation with Orange lawyer James Crawford.
Richard Winton
March 9, 2016
The 10th floor of a Santa Ana courthouse was the site of a bloody brawl Wednesday between a defense attorney and an investigator from the Orange County district attorney’s office, authorities said.
By Dan Walters
March 8, 2016 – 3:08 PM
California’s highly controversial bullet train project dodged a bullet Tuesday when a judge declared that opponents had not proved that it would violate provisions of a 2008 bond measure.
Saturday, February 27, 2016 – 03:00 p.m.
Surprisingly there’s only two in a slew of San Bernardino County Superior Court Judgeship’s being contested in June.
By Rene Ray De La Cruz
Staff Writer
Follow @@DP_ReneDeLaCruz
Posted Feb. 26, 2016 at 1:52 PM
Updated Feb 26, 2016 at 8:44 PM
HESPERIA — A coalition of public interest groups on Friday filed a lawsuit that challenges the city of Hesperia’s approval of the controversial Tapestry Project.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
February 25, 2016 – 3:43 PM
Jerry Brown may be fuming that a Superior Court judge has blocked, at least temporarily, his ballot measure to overhaul criminal sentencing laws.
By Don Thompson, Associated Press
Feb. 24, 2016 – 9:36 PM ET
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A state judge on Wednesday blocked Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed ballot initiative to reduce California’s prison population, despite warnings that her decision could effectively stall its consideration by voters until 2018.
Joy Resmovits and Howard Blume
February 24, 2016
One of the highest-stakes battles in education is about to resume Thursday in a Los Angeles courtroom as teacher unions and their allies try to win back job protections that were tossed out in a landmark 2014 ruling.
By Matthew Cabe
Staff Writer
Posted Feb. 23, 2016 at 7:09 AM
SAN BERNARDINO — Three San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies seen on video beating Francis Pusok last April in a rural county area near Apple Valley were ordered to stand trial Monday.
Capitol Alert
By Jim Miller
jmiller@sacbee.com
February 12, 2016 11:38 AM
California prosecutors have asked a judge to block a newly amended ballot measure championed by Gov. Jerry Brown that would make it easier for nonviolent prisoners to get parole.
By Jeff McDonald
Jan. 25, 2016 | Updated – 5:05 p.m.
A San Francisco Superior Court judge on Monday rejected the California Public Utilities Commission’s request to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at forcing regulators to release dozens of emails to and from Gov. Jerry Brown’s office regarding the San Onofre nuclear plant failure.
By Tracy Seipel
tseipel@mercurynews.com
Posted: 01/21/2016 – 12:01:48 PM PST
Updated: 01/21/2016 – 07:01:54 PM PST
California’s four largest health plans may be on the hook for $10 billion in state back taxes — and at least $1 billion every year going forward — if a closely watched legal case does not break their way.
Saturday, January 16, 2015 – 09:00 a.m.
There has been updated news coverage of recent developments in a high-profile San Bernardino County criminal courts case.
To read the articles, click the following links:
The Sun / Daily Bulletin: San Bernardino judge denies defense motion to dismiss Colonies indictment
The Press-Enterprise: COLONIES: Judge refuses to toss out charges in corruption case
Abby Sewell
January 15, 2016
Los Angeles County’s spending on lawsuit-related attorney fees, settlements and judgments rose 24% last year — an increase driven largely by litigation against the Sheriff’s Department.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 – 08:45 a.m.
The Los Angeles Daily Journal has penned another article on an ongoing long-running high-profile San Bernardino County criminal prosecution.
Daily Journal is California’s largest legal news provider.
To read the story, published Monday, click the following link:
Daily Journal: Judge considers motion to dismiss in long-running public corruption case
January 9, 2015 – 10:00 a.m.
A extensive hearing on the high-profile Colonies case was held in San Bernardino County Superior Court on Friday.
To read local news coverage on the proceedings, click the following links:
The Sun / Daily Bulletin: Judge in Colonies case to weigh trial or dismissing case
The Press-Enterprise: CORRUPTION CASE: Prosecution denies withholding evidence
IE Business Daily: Allegations of Prosecution Misconduct Made in Colonies Criminal Case
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By Cassie MacDuff
Published: Jan. 5, 2016
Updated: Jan. 6, 2016 – 8:48 a.m.
A very disturbing statistic emerged late last year: The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and one judge approved more wiretaps in 2012, 2013 and 2014 than any other county in California.
Not just a little more – a lot more.
To read column by Cassie MacDuff in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Dec. 31, 2015 – Updated 8:59 a.m.
About this story: This report was written by Edward Humes, the author of 13 nonfiction books and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his Orange County Register coverage of the military. The story is based on extensive reporting by the Register’s staff, including Tony Saavedra, David Ferrell, Kelly Puente, Tom Berg and Ian Wheeler, previously published stories and legal documents obtained by the newspaper since the arrest of Scott Dekraai after the worst mass shooting in Orange County history. Illustrations were drawn by Jeff Goertzen.
Read more at the Register’s ‘Inside the Snitch Tank’ site
Prologue
On his last day of freedom, Scott Dekraai spoke on the phone with his ex-wife. Let’s meet for coffee, he suggested.
Monday, December 28, 2015 – 09:30 a.m.
Here’s the latest local news coverage of an ongoing high-profile San Bernardino County legal case.
The Press-Enterprise: SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Trial postponed in Colonies corruption case
Daily Press: Colonies trial date is pushed back
The Sun: Health issues delay trial in Colonies corruption case by eight months
Amazingly, the later story was authored by someone not actually present in the courtroom.
Published: Dec. 18, 2015
Updated: Dec. 20, 2015 – 5:57 p.m.
Jurupa Valley City Manager Gary Thompson is certain Riverside County will prevail in the legal challenge filed by Eastvale concerning a plan to erase millions of dollars in debt owed by Jurupa Valley, Menifee and Wildomar — but not Eastvale.
To read article by Sandra Stokley in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
November 26, 2015
There’s nothing more fundamental to a well-functioning society than an efficient, fair court system to resolve civil disputes and criminal cases.
By Lou Ponsi / Staff Writer
Nov. 23, 2015 – Updated 12:11 p.m.
A $4.9 million settlement has been reached in the Kelly Thomas wrongful-death civil suit against Fullerton and current and former police officers, attorneys announced Monday just hours before the civil case was to begin.
By Kelly Puente and Tony Saavedra / Staff Writers
Nov. 19, 2015
Updated Nov. 20, 2015 – 12:36 p.m.
After four sheriff’s deputies refused to testify in court on grounds of self-incrimination, an Orange County judge on Wednesday granted a new trial for a gang member convicted of murder.
Published: Nov. 16, 2015 – 8:18 p.m.
The Eastvale City Council announced Monday night, Nov. 16, that it intends to file a lawsuit against Riverside County involving a bill that provided for debt relief for Riverside County’s newest cities.
To read article by Sandra Stokley in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Monday, November 16, 2015 – 08:00 a.m.
Three highly-publicized long-running San Bernardino County criminal prosecutions will see 2016, and likely beyond for that matter.
Chad Terhune
October 9, 2015
Health insurance giant Blue Shield of California sued its former public policy director and accused him of disclosing confidential company information.
Saturday, November 7, 2015 – 09:30 a.m.
Here’s the latest local newspaper coverage of a high-profile San Bernardino County court case of public concern.
By Matthew Cabe, Staff Writer
Posted Nov. 5, 2015 at 7:43 PM
VICTORVILLE — A former aide to San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Ramos accused of trying to smuggle drugs into a jail pleaded guilty Thursday to one felony charge as part of a plea deal, court records show.
Saturday, October 31, 2015 – 02:45 p.m.
Here’s the latest local newspaper coverage regarding an ongoing high-profile San Bernardino County court case.
Published: Oct. 23, 2015
Updated: Oct. 26, 2015 6:44 a.m.
The Inland Empire’s wait for justice — or its wait for more judges to be precise — continues after the governor’s veto of a bill that would have added judges to this area, which continues to suffer from a chronic shortage.
To read article by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Stuart Pfeifer
October 24, 2015
Dr. Prem Reddy has frequently been criticized over his tough management, cost-cutting and reduced medical services at Prime Healthcare Services Inc., his fast-growing Ontario-based hospital chain.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015 – 05:00 p.m.
Remember the name Samuel Clauder? It’s the name of a poor gentleman who was arrested in 2009 and charged with possession of child pornography.
The only problem? He didn’t do it.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015 – 02:00 p.m.
There’s been more local news coverage of a high-profile San Bernardino County court case.
Sept. 30, 2015 – Updated 11:18 p.m.
ORANGE – A top official for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office had a one-word response Wednesday to widespread accusations that local prosecutors illegally use jailhouse informants and withhold evidence beneficial to the defense: “baloney.”
Published: Sept. 22, 2015 – Updated: 11:23 p.m.
The number of legal challenges filed against the World Logistics Center has climbed to seven — including one from former Moreno Valley Mayor Tom Owings.
To read article by Imran Ghori in The Press-Enterprise, click here.