District Attorney

iePolitics: Brady issues in the District Attorney’s office

We have been saying all along that there are some “issues” with the District Attorney’s investigation in the corruption scandal.  Now we have proof.

For those not familiar with Brady, here is an excerpt from a previous post:

There is a case entitled Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963).  The Wikipedia entry reads (emphasis added):

. . . in which the prosecution had withheld from the criminal defendant certain evidence. The defendant challenged his conviction, arguing it had been contrary to the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Maryland prosecuted Brady and a companion, Boblit, for murder. Brady admitted being involved in the murder, but claimed Boblit had done the actual killing. The prosecution had withheld a written statement by Boblit confessing that he had performed the act of killing by himself. The Maryland Court of Appeal had affirmed the conviction and remanded the case for a retrial only of the question of punishment. Read more…

InlandPolitics: The Insider: Was Jerry Brown lied to?

www.inlandpolitics.com

Sunday, August 29, 2010 – 2:40 pm

It’s finally crunch time in the multi-year corruption probe launched by San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos.

And one has to wonder what Ramos told Attorney General Jerry Brown in regards to his evidence?

There’s a bigger question starting to be asked by some close to the investigation.

Was Brown lied to?

Read more…

iePolitics: Violating civil rights

Some have told us that it does not matter how San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos goes about getting convictions against the corruption figures, as long as they are convicted.  For some reason there are those who do not have an issue with the district attorney breaking the law to gain a conviction.

As more investigation is being done and discovery trickling in at a snail’s pace, we are learning just how far Ramos will go.  No law is safe from Mikey.

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iePolitics: The Postmus arrest – behind the scenes

W

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iePolitics: Well Supervisor Derry, ignoring the elephant in the room makes you as dirty as the rest of them

You know Neil, we try to defend you here at iePolitics most of the time.  But some things are beyond defensible.

For example, your comment that the POST scandal is a personnel matter.  It is NOT a personnel matter.  It is a FELONY matter that involved Sheriff Rod Hoops, former Sheriff Gary Penrod, and at least a couple dozen others ranging from clerical staff to deputy chiefs. It is misconduct of the worst kind by public officials and it is being swept under the rug with the tacit approval of the board of supervisors.

But it’s okay because you all endorse one another for election, donate to one another’s campaigns, and attend one another’s fundraisers.  We wouldn’t want justice to interfere with that, now would we?

Read more…

iePolitics: More information on FBI probe

Additional information regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) probe into the San Bernardino County corruption scandal has been trickling into iePolitics.  It appears there are two general areas the Bureau is concentrating on: all investigations conducted by District Attorney Mike Ramos’ Public Integrity Unit (PIU) and the Superior Court bench.

Based upon questions being asked by agents, this investigation is wide-ranging.  iePolitics has been told that questions are being asked regarding various real estate deals; destruction of records by former Third District Supervisor Dennis Hansberger; disparity in handling the various FPPC complaints by Ramos against Penrod, Erwin, Biane, Devereaux, and others; the difference in the way in which 1099 charges against Jim Miller and Bea Cortes were handled; the POST scandal; possibly several of the issues at ARMC (regarding Supervisors Biane and Gonzales); and much more.

Read more…

iePolitics: Canary caught in a conspiracy?

It seems our favorite yellow singing Canary, Confidential Informant No. 1, “persona au gratin,” none other than Adam Aleman, has been caught in yet another lie.  Imagine that—not our little Adam!  Tell us it ain’t so.

Discovery has been trickling into defense counsel at a snail’s pace, if at all.  Imagine defense counsel Jim Reiss’ surprise when, while being questioned under oath in the Rex Gutierrez corruption trial, Aleman claimed he had interviewed over a hundred times with district attorney investigators.

Read more…

iePolitics: So who is fornicating now?

San Bernardino County’s law firm, Boxer, Ramos & Stringer (remember Mikey likes to be in the middle), is at it again.  We learned of their speciality months ago when chief legal Beagle Ruth Stringer determined that fornication is part of the “deliberative process” and taxpayer monies spent for said fornication is not the business of the taxpayers.  We are supposed to take it in the shorts, literally.

Well our favorite ménage à trois has defied logic and sound legal reasoning yet once more.  Until recently the county reluctantly released information regarding the costs of civil litigation against former Assessor Bill Postmus, et al.  The investigation was originally capped at $250,000 but former Enron prosecutor and special investigator John Hueston went through that amount quickly.

From all appearances, the cost of the investigation/persecution has already exceeded $1 million or is quickly approaching that mark with nothing to show for it and likely no hope of ever showing anything for it except for a conviction and judgment against Adam Aleman.  Aleman is the only one to plead guilty and not file an answer.

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iePolitics: Ramos, Penrod, Hoops, and POST

San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops

Like we mentioned earlier this week, selective prosecution is alive and well in San Bernardino County.  As Mark Gluglueck pointed our below, not all lawbreakers are treated equally, especially if the lawbreaker is a cop.

In the context of Mark’s story, is it any wonder at all that the high-ranking officials from the Sheriff’s Department have not been prosecuted for the POST scandal?  For those who forget what the POST scandal is all about, here is the link:  A Legacy of Malfeasance—Part-2

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The Sentinel: Sheriff’s Department gathered photographs of DA Mike Ramos cavorting with prostitutes

District Attorney Mike Ramos

The San Bernardino County Sentinel
Friday, July 16, 2010

Former sheriff Gary Penrod accumulated compromising information and materials pertaining to district attorney Mike Ramos which was then utilized to blackmail Ramos and head off an incipient effort by the district attorney’s office to file criminal charges against Penrod pertaining to a host of criminal acts the sheriff was himself involved in.

Read more…

InlandPolitics: The Brown-Biane saga – Part 2

iePolitics: More selective prosecution?

We are getting very close to the statute of limitations running on the defendants in the POST scandal and no charges have been filed by San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos.  We are getting very close to the statute of limitations running on former San Bernardino County Supervisor Dennis Hansberger and staff for the destruction of official records when he left office and no charges have been filed by San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos.  We are perhaps not as close to the statute of limitations running on Grand Terrace City Councilwoman Bertha Bea Cortes. but still after the complaint being in the hands of San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos for many months, no charges have been filed.

Read more…

iePolitics: Hansberger/Ramos to challenge Derry?

It seems the behind-the-scenes chatter is picking up regarding at least one challenger for San Bernardino Third District Supervisor incumbent Neil Derry.  James Ramos, tribal chairman of the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians, is said to be considering seriously a run for the seat that includes parts of San Bernardino, and the cities/communities of Redlands, Yucaipa,  Big Bear, Highland, Lake Arrowhead and Yucca Valley.

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iePolitics: Holy Cow Robin! Can I be your Batman?

Moonbeam and Robin

Batman: “Haven’t you noticed how we always escape the vicious ensnarements of our enemies?”
Robin: “Yeah, because we’re smarter than they are!”
Batman: “I like to think it’s because our hearts are pure.”

Riddle me this readers:  What were they thinking?

“What was who thinking?” you say.  Our men in tights . . . our caped crusaders . . . our dynamic crime fighting duo . . . Moonbeam and Mikey . . . oops, I mean Batman and Robin.

That’s right!  Moonbeam had been wandering aimlessly along in the fog for far too long until he ran right smack dab into the “crime of the century.”  Robin had been fighting corruption in San Bernardino County by his lonesome since his Batman retired (Hoops isn’t into wearing tights and a cape) so he eagerly welcomed his new “partner”—Hackleman’s term, not mine, and we won’t go any further with that visual—and our dynamic duo was united.  (See photo on office wall.)

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iePolitics: The Corruption Scandal – Another Political Angle

David Ellis is the founder of the Dave Ellis Group and Delta Partners, LLC, a full-service government relations and public affairs firm located in Orange County, California.  He is San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos’ campaign consultant and political advisor.

Not long after Sam Clauder’s arrest on child porn charges, Ellis was at an event where he was overheard saying, “I think we have Clauder right where we want him,” referring to Clauder’s arrest and incarceration.  Remember, Sam Clauder was a Democratic operative and vocal opponent of Mike Ramos and other San Bernardino County Republicans.

Exactly why would a campaign consultant be interested in whom his client prosecutes?  For that matter, why would a district attorney be discussing a current case with his campaign consultant?

Read more…

SBSun: Chicago-style politics comes to county

Editor’s Note:  Just remember we said it first, third and fifth!  (Fox said it second and Erwin fourth.)  And we were ridiculed for saying it.

Richard Grenell
Posted: 07/08/2010 07:57:06 PM PDT

In the aftermath of the announcement that District Attorney Mike Ramos’ team failed miserably to prove that Rex Gutierrez participated in a conspiracy or lied on his time card, there was one little-noticed comment that stood out.Assistant District Attorney Jim Hackleman, Mike Ramos’ appointed hatchet man, accidentally confirmed a suspicion many San Bernardino County residents had suspected for many months. Hackleman was asked by the media if the DA’s Office would seek a re-trial of their failed and costly conspiracy case and his comments were very telling. Hackleman proved just who was driving this wild political investigation when he said, “We’re going to sit down with our partners in the Attorney General’s office and will thoroughly review and refine our case with them.”

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InlandPolitics: So what do Mike Ramos and Rex Gutierrez have in common?

Ramos

www.inlandpolitics.com

While Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman and former San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office Inter-Governmental Affairs Officer Rex Gutierrez was allegedly doing city work on county time and county work on city time, what was our favorite San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos doing?

Well he had his own version of “inter-governmental affairs” on his mind. Yep, that’s right. He was busy with affairs for sure. You know the kind—fornication, copulation, making whoopee—not with the wife he tells these women he is divorcing, but with his subordinates.

Read more…

iePolitics: How does one go from having integrity to not?

I am referring to the quotes by San Bernardino County Assistant District Attorney Jim Hackleman in Thursday’s Press Enterprise:

Hackleman said Aleman is an important witness but not a critical one.

“I think from an overall perspective our impression was he did well,” he said, adding that Aleman’s statements were corroborated by other evidence.

Jim, one juror stated that 90 percent of the jurors did not believe Adam Aleman.  He was caught in numerous lies on the stand.  And, without his hearsay testimony, you have no case for a conspiracy whatsoever.  I’m sure you noticed.

Read more…

iePolitics: Discontent in the Public Defender’s Office – Revised

Editor’s Note: The Sun refused to publish this letter from a deputy public defender, which is a typical Frank Pine decision. The letter was signed and anonymity was not requested. The Sun based their decision on the letter being a “hit piece” against Doreen Boxer. Here at iePolitics we have little doubt that Pine was protecting Boxer based on her sexual relationship with District Attorney Mike Ramos.  So, we have no problem printing the letter.

June 2, 2010
Editor
San Bernardino Sun

Dear Editor:

I have been a Deputy Public Defender with the County of San Bernardino for approximately nine years.  In 2006, while disappointed that Interim Public Defender Gerald Farber was not awarded the position, I viewed the hiring of Doreen Boxer with a mix of excited anticipation and the belief that our office and therefore, our clients, would be in good hands under Ms. Boxer’s administration.  At first, Ms. Boxer exceeded expectations.

When she began, she implemented a training program for new attorneys, made sure that we had proper resource materials for competent representation of our clients and instilled pride and a sincere belief that we were truly fighting for the rights of our indigent clients.  Morale was at an all time high.

Now that we are in mid 2010, I cannot honestly say that I feel the same way of our Public Defender Administration.  Morale of our attorney and investigations units have bottomed out under the leadership of Ms. Boxer and her assistant, Lauri Ferguson.  Ms. Boxer and Ms. Ferguson would like to have us believe that our morale problem stems from a bad economy and thus, a much stricter county budget.  Nothing could be farther than the truth. Read more…

InlandPolitics: More women come forward against S.B. County District Attorney

iePolitics: The Significance Has Been Lost

As I read various blog comments and accounts of Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman and former San Bernardino County Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez’ corruption trial and non-verdict, I realize the magnitude of what happened Wednesday is lost on most.  Let me explain.

The District Attorney pulled out all stops to keep this case from going to trial any sooner than necessary due to his re-election campaign and fear certain information might come out during the trial.   Gutierrez refused to waive time further.  The District Attorney used every procedural delay available and the trial did not commence until the last possible moment.  The District Attorney was hoping a smoking gun would materialize but it never did.  The District Attorney’s hand was forced. Read more…

InlandPolitics: Jury deliberations end for the day in Gutierrez case, questions favorable to defense presented – Revised

iePolitics: Things Are Getting Fishier and Fishier in Grand Terrace – Sheriff Hoops, What is up?

I spoke with Kay Moore, the defendant in Grand Terrace City Councilwoman Bea Cortes’ restraining order, tonight.  Things are not right!

First, Mrs. Moore did appear at the first hearing and the judge granted the order anyway.  Cortes claimed she was afraid of Moore because Moore  is so “large.”  Moore is 65 years old, 5’7″ and weighs 155 pounds.  The judge could see that for himself.

Second, the judge told Cortes that he would not order Moore to stay away from city hall, etc., yet you can see for yourselves that that is the order that was issued. Read more…

iePolitics: The Restraining Order

Here is the order:  Councilperson Cortes v. Moore Note:  There are two separate files when you open the document.  The first is the application and the second is the order.

A couple of things are noteworthy.  First, the order is for 100 yards and includes city hall, city functions, etc.  The defendant is a resident of  Grand Terrace and this order basically denies her right to participate in city government or even pay her trash bill in person.  If this order is made permanent, she would not be allowed to attend a 4th of July event if the city is sponsoring one, or a Christmas pageant, or a parade.

If you read the application, Cortes actually wanted the defendant restrained from using foul language or discussing politics. Read more…

iePolitics: Does Sleeping with Mike Ramos Help Win Ones Court Case?

When I first heard of the restraining order City of Grand Terrace Councilwoman Bea Cortes obtained against a citizen in her city, I didn’t pay too much attention to it.  Yesterday, I had the chance to view the actual document.  I hope to post the document and supporting declaration before the end of the day, so all the “experts” here on the blog can read it and give their opinion, but I have never seen such a restrictive restraining order ever.  And it was Bea Cortes who started the altercation. Read more…

iePolitics: Can justice be found in San Bernardino County – Part 5

The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.

~George Washington~

I intended for the final installment in this series to profile the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.  But how many times can I write about the incestuous relationships between District Attorney Mike Ramos, Conflict Panel attorneys, Public Defender Doreen Boxer and judges—relationships that often should be prohibited by conflict laws if not their own sense of integrity and morality?  Unfortunately, as we know “integrity and morality” are not important qualities to many of these individuals.

Today I was listening to closing arguments in the Rex Gutierrez case and it hit me as to why I feel so strongly about these corruption cases.  I decided to change my focus for this last article from the Sheriff’s Department to the pursuit of justice by the unjust.

Defense counsel are paid to do one thing and one thing only and that is to mitigate the circumstances in which criminal defendants finds themselves.  In a perfect world, the accused would admit guilt if they are in fact guilty and take their punishment like a man.  But then again, in a perfect world, actually crime would not exist and there would be no need for a justice system. Read more…

iePolitics: A Happy Day and a Sad Day

The happy news for me today was the seizure of Arrowhead Credit Unit (ACU).  Probably about five years ago, for the first and only time in my life, I was told by one of their call center representatives that if I used any more foul language, she would hang up on me.  It had to do with a $5,000 cash deposit I had made days earlier in the Victorville branch.  Little did I know they had placed a 10-business-day hold on the money, so I had written checks, lots of checks.   I did not discover the hold until the checks started to bounce.  When I called to find out what had happened I was told that since I normally did not keep that much money in my account, they placed a hold on it.  The little twit then proceeded to tell me I shouldn’t be writing checks if the money has not been posted and started to explain to me how to balance a checkbook.  I promised her then, they would pay for this. Read more…

iePolitics: David Lewis of the Lewis Group of Companies Found Dead

David Lewis, Executive Vice President of the Lewis Group of Companies, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot on Thursday.  A suicide note was left.  Lewis, 36, leaves behind his wife and son.

The reasons for taking his own life have not been made public by the family.  However, Lewis was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance last week when he was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol on Interstate 15.  He was booked into West Valley Detention Center and bailed out that evening.

Read more…

iePolitics: Breaking News – Judge Rouse Acquits Gutierrez on Count Three

Defense attorney for accused Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez Jim Reiss motioned today that Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse dismiss Count Three, Embezzlement by a Public Officer.  After about thirty minutes of oral argument and review of applicable case law, Judge Rouse acquitted Gutierrez on this count. Read more…

iePolitics: Can justice be found in San Bernadino County? – Part 4

Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.

˜Socrates˜

In the first three parts we examined the District Attorney’s Office, the Conflict Panel, and the Public Defender’s Office.  It is now time to turn our attention to the Superior Court bench.

San Bernardino County has 72 judges currently assigned to it.  Almost every one of those judges who have been elected or appointed in the past eight years received the required blessing of the District Attorney’s office before being appointed or elected.  Other than the governor of the state of California, no one elected official has more influence over who sits as a judge on the bench in San Bernardino County than District Attorney Mike Ramos.  Some say that is how it should be—a good way to assure criminals are locked up for a long time. Read more…

InlandPolitics: Is Gutierrez collateral damage from DA pursuit of developer?

www.inlandpolitics.com

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.

Some of the interesting highlights from this morning include;

Investigator and designated case officer Schyler Beaty testified that an examination of phone records found over 300 phone calls between Gutierrez and Burum during Gutierrez’s tenure at the Assessor’s office. A period of more than 18 months.

When Beaty was asked by Reiss if he had conducted an analysis of call activity between Gutierrez and Burum prior to Gutierrez’s employment at the Assessor’s office, Beaty said no. Read more…

iePolitics: The Matinee: Watching Paint Dry

It seems things did not improve much for the prosecution this afternoon in the Rex Gutierrez trial.  San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney John Goritz continued with his monotonous presentation of the People’s case.  Goritz attempted to advance his “conspiracy” theory even though no one is charged with conspiracy.  For that matter, the main “conspirator” isn’t charged with anything. Read more…

The Sentinel: Councilwoman Cortes Seeks Restraining Order Against Constituent

Grand Terrace Councilwoman Bea Cortes, who has become a figure of some controversy in recent months, this week filed for and was granted a restraining order against one of her constituents. The incident that precipitated the filing grew out of an apparent misunderstanding on the councilwoman’s part or otherwise her belief that a citizen’s disapproval of the way in which she has conducted herself in office constituted a threat to her safety and well being.

The Sentinel has learned that on June 1, Cortes was seated at the bar at JB’s Bar and Grill. That evening, seated across the bar was another Grand Terrace resident, Kay Moore, who resides with her husband, Steve, in the 23000 block of Westwood Avenue. Kay Moore, who was familiar with who Cortes was and her position with the city, remarked upon Cortes’ presence to another patron. Moore made further note of her disagreement with Cortes’ politics. Read more…

InlandPolitics: Inland Empire Republicans for Jerry Brown?

www.inlandpolitics.com

In the Inland Empire there is always an interesting political dynamic afoot.

This one is a beauty.

Sources tell InlandPolitics that San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos, a Republican, has embarked on an effort to fulfill a commitment he made to Democratic candidate for Governor Edmund “Jerry” Brown.

The commitment? Form a group of local influential Inland Empire Republicans to support Brown in the November showdown with GOP nominee Meg Whitman. Something that would be interesting to say the least, but highly improbable. Read more…

iePolitics: County Fire

Late last week it was announced that Assistant Fire Chief Dan Wurl was named to replace retiring Fire Chief Pat Dennen.  And with that announcement came the stories and with the stories came the re-hash of last year’s trailer incident.  So the newspaper blogs were busy with derogatory remarks about both Dan and Pat.  And that’s a problem.

You see, the story that Mark Uffer and Andrew Lamberto told to the Board of Supervisors and the media wasn’t exactly the truth.  As a matter of fact it was a huge cover up for their own lies and empire building.  Those two tried to destroy Pat and Dan for their own financial rewards.  And Mark and Andrew covered for a few others who were greasing hands of certain politicians. Read more…

iePolitics: Congratulations to Sheriff Rod Hoops

I just wanted to publicly congratulate Sheriff Rod Hoops on his victory.  I don’t think there has been anywhere else where there has been more criticism of Sheriff Hoops than here at iePolitics.  I was not going to censor contributors nor will I do so in the future.

That being said, as the campaign progressed I have to admit I softened a bit.  Part of it I’m sure is the fact that time heals.  And part of it is a couple of emails between Sheriff Hoops and me. Read more…

iePolitics: Frank Guzman for District Attorney

www.frankguzman4da.com

I seek only to be your District Attorney.   I will end the “good old boy” corruption that has undermined the County criminal justice system. I will usher in a new era in San Bernardino County, an era of a professional prosecutor’s office with special allegiances to no one—except the citizens.

The moral and ethical decay that has been pervasive in the office is at an end.  Thieving former Sheriffs will not receive special treatment.  Campaign contributors will not get special badges.  I will not turn a blind eye to any criminal act, regardless of by whom it was perpetrated.  I will minister justice evenhandedly. Fighting political corruption does not happen conveniently in the election cycle.  The sentry must always be on watch. Read more…

iePolitics: A Few Worried Souls – Revised

Yep, that is right.  There are a few people who are shopping this weekend for leak-proof undergarments.   Monday the Rex Gutierrez criminal trial will be underway.

Let’s see . . . first up is our favorite yellow singing Canary, Confidential Informant No. 1, “persona au gratin,” the star witness for the prosecution  . . . Adam Aleman.  I wonder which stories he will tell next week.  There is such a long list of them.  Maybe it will be the one about the off-shore bank accounts. By the way Adam, Bill and Jim found their debit cards so they don’t need your help after all.  Or perhaps it is the $1.02 million Jim Brulte received in kickbacks.  Or the rat trap left on your porch.  The bullet through the mail, maybe? Oh, the list is endless. Read more…

iePolitics: Would Mikey really do that?

I heard a little story yesterday from a Sheriff’s Department informant.  The first part is common knowledge.  There was a Sheriff’s Department employee by the name of Cindy.  She eventually because an investigative technician for the District Attorney and Mikey’s latest flame.  When a sheriff’s deputy was being investigated on porn charges, Ms. Cindy’s topless photos were found on his computer.  Ms. Cindy has since moved to Mentone to be closer to Mikey. Read more…

iePolitics: Is Assemlyman Bill Emmerson (R-Somewhere In California) Turning Against District Attorney Mike Ramos?

Is Assemblyman Bill Emmerson (R-Hemet/Upland/Redlands/Wherever) turning against one of his strongest endorsers? For years, DA Mike Ramos and Bill Emmerson have been politically close. DA Mike Ramos has endorsed Emmerson for legislative offices through the years, and Emmerson has backed Ramos for district attorney.

However, is that supposedly close political relationship about to change?

With much fanfare, it was announced in February 2010 that DA Ramos believed that Second District County Supervisor Paul Biane (who was identified only as a “John Doe”) was an unindicted co-conspirator in alleged malfeasance related to the 2006 Colonies settlement. Biane, like most of those charged by Ramos, denies all allegations, and he himself has not yet been charged. However, at a press conference that attracted statewide media attention, Ramos made clear when unveiling Biane’s possible involvement in an alleged corruption scheme that the criminal investigation remains “ongoing.” Read more…

iePolitics: The Canary Has Been Knocked Off His Perch

It seems our favorite singing Canary, “persona au gratin,” Confidential Informant No. 1, none other than Adam Aleman, has been told to change his phone number and not communicate with our side of the cases.  I guess his braggadocio finally got the attention of District Attorney investigators, who are watching their cases against the big, bad “corruption” figures go down the toilet, almost literally. Read more…

iePolitics: Can justice be found in San Bernardino County? – Part 3

Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both. — Eleanor Roosevelt

So far in this series we have discussed the District Attorney’s office and the Conflict Panel.  There are three other components to justice, or the lack thereof, in San Bernardino County:  the Public Defender, the Sheriff’s Department, and the Superior Court bench.  Today, we will discuss the office of the Public Defender.

The Mission Statement on the wall of the Public Defender reads:

The Public Defender protects the constitutional rights of indigent defendants by providing skilled legal counsel and passionate advocacy at all critical phases of state level criminal and civil commitment litigation.

It is hard to believe that Public Defender Doreen Boxer would have the audacity to post such a blatant lie once one knows what really goes on at the Public Defender’s office.  iePolitics has been contacted by numerous Public Defender employees with stories of retaliation for helping clients and tales of conspiracy with the district attorney’s office to the detriment of justice.   And both actions seem to be allowed and rewarded.

But is it really that bad?  I mean, crooks going to jail, and deservedly so, is a good thing, right?.  The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads:

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

So, yes.  It really is that bad.  Anything that violates the Constitutional rights of any citizen of the United States is bad, very bad.  Perhaps today it is a serial murderer but tomorrow it could just as easily be you or I.  Once we lose our freedoms granted to us by the Constitution of the United States, America no longer exists.  And that why what is happening in San Bernardino County’s justice system is so troubling.  Literally, we are watching those who have committed no crime be prosecuted with malice.  And those who are trying to defend any who have been charged, punished for doing their jobs. Read more…

iePolitics: Ramos Under Investigation By The FPPC – Again

San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos is once again under investigation by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)  See letter:

This is the second letter received from the FPPC on this matter. The first letter acknowledged receipt of the complaint and advised they would determine if there was enough evidence to investigate. The 460 speaks for itself so it would have been hard to say there is no evidence.

Basically, the complaint alleges that Ramos used his campaign account as a slush fund—something he is accusing everyone else of doing. And it appears that he used his campaign account so that his county credit card would not be scrutinized. Read more…

InlandPolitics Commentary: Is “culture of cover-up” plaguing S.B. County government?

• Written by Senor Blogger
• Posted May 23, 2010 at 1:39 pm

One things for certain.

San Bernardino County doesn’t want any bad news made public. And when it does go public by way of internal leaks, the course of action is to downplay or deny.

The current situation at San Bernardino County-owned and operated Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) is a prime example.

When allegations alleging a breakdown in quality of care began surfacing several months, hospital and county officials denied any problems existed. This was until outside investigations surfaced that found critical breakdowns in medical care and other areas.

Medicare and MediCal have threatened to terminate reimbursements to the facility. A threat that doesn’t materialize until after at least two prior warnings.

I can’t find any public disclosures of any prior warnings to the facility. Read more…

iePolitics: More ARMC Cover Up

Sometimes I really wonder who is the worst lawyer, District Attorney Mike Ramos or County Counsel Ruth Stringer.  From Ramos we have learned that the Constitution of the United States is not applicable in San Bernardino County, at least not in connection with political enemies.   And County Counsel Ruth Stringer has taught us that copulation involving public resources is covered by the “deliberative process” and therefore not subject to review, not that we wanted to review the copulation, only the expenditures attached thereto.

Now we find our two legal beagles are at it again.  Well, not with each other we hope, but in consort of sorts, with those at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) who wish to cover for the misdeeds of members of the Board of Supervisors, the county’s Medical Director Dr. Dev GnanaDev,  ARMC Chief Executive Officer Patrick Petre, and a handful of doctors and other ARMC employees. Read more…

iePolitics: Time To Bring In Deputy McGruff

It seems someone has called a spade a spade.  Yep, that’s right!  Someone finally recognizes Mikey for what he is.

Apparently, San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos has his “panties in a wad,” to quote my source.  Ramos had a large campaign sign posted at Ford Street and I-10.  Well someone wrote “womanizer” on it.  Mikey found out and the Redlands Police Department was called to take the sign down, enter it into evidence and investigate the crime of the century.  So our tax dollars are once again being put to good use and the citizens of Redlands can feel safe knowing that there is so little crime in Redlands that their officers have time for such an important investigation. Read more…

iePolitics: Can justice be found in San Bernardino County? – Part 2

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Meting out justice in California’s court system is no easy task, but finding justice in San Bernardino County, where the line between right and wrong has been blurred into oblivion, is almost impossible.  Friendships between defense counsel and prosecutors or judges and sheriffs are hardly unheard of in the legal community but sleeping with the enemy—literally, has become a way of life in our local justice system.

Two of the basic tenets of the American criminal justice system are 1) a defendant is innocent until proven guilty and 2) all defendants have the right to legal counsel to assist them in their defense of the charges against them.  But criminal defense attorneys come with a significant price tag attached and a majority of those charged with crimes are in the lowest economic bracket.  So to provide a defense for indigent defendants, all counties in our state have a public defender’s office whose cost for legal services is based on the ability to pay. Read more…

iePolitics: Mike Ramos Raising Money For His Legal Defense Fund?

That is the only logical excuse we can come up in reference to the fundraiser being held on May 20, 2010.  Among others, it is being sponsored by the San Bernardino Public Employees Association.  But this late in the primary and with the campaign war chest he already has, there is no reason for this fundraiser.  It’s kind of a bizarre fundraiser, don’t you think?

So we have to think Mikey is raising money for the various cases being filed against him, Cheryl Ristow’s being the first one we expect.  But remember she is not the only one.  So does his retained law firm, Greshem, Savage, Nolan and Tilden, handle criminal defense cases in federal court?  Maybe by the next reporting period we will know who he has retained.  Aren’t all of you county employees glad your union is spending money to help Mikey with his defense?  Check out his 460 if you don’t believe me.

InlandPolitics: More evidence surfacing in corruption case

• Written by Senor Blogger
• Posted May 13, 2010 at 9:59 am

Ramos

Words can speak volumes about motivation.

On February 18, 2010 after arriving back back at LAX/Ontario International Airport from a trip to Sacramento, San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos was elated after receiving a text message on his cell phone telling him the the Petition for Review filed by Defendant Jim Erwin was denied by the California State Supreme Court. Read more…

InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Ramos denials continue

• Written by Senor Blogger
• Posted May 9, 2010 at 10:37 am

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.

The newspaper even made reference to local political blogs which assert that Ramos several affairs, most of which are within the office and involve his subordinates. Read more…