Category Archives: Assessor’s Office

iePolitics: Postmus accepts plea deal

Posted on by Administrator
34

In a relatively sudden turn of events, former Assessor and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors accepted a plea deal in both the Assessor’s Office corruption scandal and the Colonies Settlement scandal.  He agreed to plead guilty to one count of misappropriations of funds in the Assessor’s Office case and to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and one 1090 violation in the Colonies case.  The agreement is contingent upon his truthful testimony in both cases.

This story will be updated as the evening goes on.

iePolitics: Exclusive: The Eyler/Postmus witness list – Updated #3

Posted on by Administrator
1

Editor’s Note:  For a blog that “no one reads,” stories that are printed on it sure do have the tendency to create havoc.  We knew there would be several additional names to this list, but then presents drop from the sky.  And those presents were read by the defense.


iePolitics has obtained a partial list of witnesses expected to be called as a part of the upcoming corruption trial in People v. Postmus, et al.  Attorneys for the defendants have given the judge an expected length of seven to eight weeks for the trial.  Here are the names we have been given so far:

Continue reading →

iePolitics: I hope you chose your words carefully

Posted on by Administrator
3

Congressman Jerry Lewis

Today the High Desert moved closer to being a big city.  All of the San Bernardino County’s dignitaries were here to dedicate the new County Government Center.  First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt initiated the naming of the Jerry Lewis High Desert Government Center after minority maker Congressman Jerry Lewis and it was so named.

The center will house a dozen or more departments including the Assessor’s Office, County Clerk and Recorder, Code Enforcement, Environmental Health, and Veterans Affairs.  It is located in the center of Hesperia along with the library, police department and City Hall.

Among those seen at the event were Congressman Jerry Lewis, First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, Second District Supervisor Paul Biane, Third District Supervisor Josie Gonzales, Sheriff Rod Hoops, Auditor-Controller-Recorder-Tax Collector Larry Walker and his new assistant, Matt Brown.  We hear Matt was all smiles as he worked the crowd.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: A dime

Posted on by Administrator
4

It’s always interesting to see what mainstream media prints and what they don’t.  Today’s stories on the Postmus/Eyler preliminary hearing are a case in point.  Both the Sun and the Press Enterprise did a good job of getting the facts out.  But they both forgot a few of the better moments.

Our second most favorite District Attorney investigator, Bud Randle, was on the stand testifying as to the theft charges against Bill Postmus.  While discussing one of the charges, Randle was asked when they discovered the “crime.”  Before all was said and done, Randle had to admit that the District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges three years and ONE MONTH after discovery.  In other words, they waited until AFTER the statute of limitations had expired to file.  That may very well be a problem.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: DA liar No. 2

Posted on by Administrator
6

Bob Smith

As discovery is released to the defendants in the county’s corruption scandal, we are able to get a glimpse of people’s true motives.  We knew Adam wasn’t the only liar.  We learned about Matt Brown months ago.  And we assumed there were others.

Another name has come to the forefront in the snitch department, but like Brown, his efforts were for naught.  Former San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy, former San Bernardino County Welfare Fraud Investigator, and former San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office employee Bob Smith decided on his own to wear a wire.

And what did the treasonous Mr. Smith get for his efforts?  A big fat zero.  But that should not surprise us.

Continue reading →

SBGrapevine: Editorial: Time for the US Department of Justice to Step in: Compelled to Deceive – Part Three

Posted on by Administrator
3

Adam Aleman

www.sbgrapevine.com

Are you listening US Attorney?  San Bernardino County is in crisis.  It is a crisis that mocks our justice system; one that distorts the truth; and one where integrity is a forgotten.  Bringing about justice is no longer the highest priority of our county prosecutors; winning at any and all cost  is their goal—a goal that has little to do integrity, truth or . . . justice.

There are many lesser-known stories of justice gone awry in our county. Ours  starts with a little-known manager at the local Outback Steakhouse who went on to make headlines.  His name is familiar to all of us.  It is Adam Aleman.

Aleman caught the attention of then-Supervisor Bill Postmus many years ago.  He eventually left Outback Steakhouse to become a member of Postmus’ Board of Supervisors staff.

Continue reading →

SBGrapevine: Editorial: Now is the time for the US Department of Justice to step in – Part Two

Posted on by Administrator
6

www.sbgrapevine.com

Are you listening US Attorney?  San Bernardino County is in crisis.  The principles our nation were founded on are being undermined by the very person sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States—the person charged with enforcing the Constitution and all state and local laws at the county level.

When one reads the California District Attorneys Association Code of Ethics reprinted in Part One of this series, it is easy to see its President and our county’s District Attorney, Mike Ramos, has broken every concept put forth in that document.  He flagrantly violates those ethical standards while claiming to be in the pursuit of “justice.”

Continue reading →

SBGrapevine: Editorial: Now is the time for the US Department of Justice to step in – Part One

Posted on by Administrator
5

District Attorney Mike Ramos

www.sbgrapevine.com

Are you listening United States Attorney?  San Bernardino County is in crisis.  Oh yes, we have financial problems like every other jurisdiction but we will get through them in due time.  Our crisis is a much more serious threat to our citizenry.  It is a crisis of ethics, of safety, and of fear.

Our crisis undermines the feeling of security and well being of law-abiding citizens.  It mocks those who gave their blood to protect the Constitution of the United States.  It is as evil a crisis as any American community can face.

Our crisis centers around the political aspirations of our district attorney who uses his powers, not just to prosecute criminals, but to persecute political enemies.  Justice no longer equates with truth but rather revenge.

California Government Code Section 26500 defines  the district attorney as the chief law enforcement officer in the county.  It is one of only four positions in any county that is required by the California Constitution to be elected.  The others are sheriff, assessor and members of the governing body.

The California District Attorneys Association defines the ethical duties of prosecutors as follows:

Continue reading →

InlandPolitics: It’s showtime!

Posted on by Administrator
3

www.inlandpolitics.com

Thursday, September 30, 2010 – 09:00 p.m.

It’s showtime in the re-trial of former Assessor employee and Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez.

Gutierrez, who is charged with three felonies related to alleged time card fraud during his employment under former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus, now faces his main accuser.

That person? Former Assistant Assessor and key prosecution witness Adam Aleman.

Late Thursday afternoon Aleman took the witness stand for the prosecution.

Aleman, a convicted felon, is the central witness in all the alleged corruption cases being prosecuted by Attorney General Jerry Brown and District Attorney Mike Ramos.

Continue reading →

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

Posted on by Administrator
5
  • Written by The Insider
  • Posted July 6, 2010 at 8:38 am

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.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: The Significance Has Been Lost

Posted on by Administrator
8

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. Continue reading →

iePolitics: Dennis Draeger for Assessor

Posted on by Administrator
Reply


www.dennisdraeger.com

San Bernardino County has been humiliated as scandals have rocked our community.  Though the issues are serious, these embarrassing public actions represent a small minority of county employees. Most come to work each day and work hard to do the job the public expects.

Political turmoil enveloped the Assessor’s Office in 2008.  Public confidence and employee morale was at an all time low. The Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed me as Assessor to restore public trust  and stability in the Assessor’s Office.

I started my career 35 years ago in the Assessor’s Office.   In 1978,  I assisted with the implementation of Proposition 13 and fully support how this law protects taxpayers from excessive tax hikes.   I have spent a total of 25 years with the Assessor’s Office and 10 years in the Tax Collector’s Office where I was appointed Assistant Tax Collector to restore confidence by implementing new standards and controls after that office was rocked by corruption. Continue reading →