A sad tale oabout Washington politicos: BlackBerry
If you take a look at the story, notice that Bill now has Twitter and he would love some followers. For that matter, I also added a Twitter button to the top of this blog. I could use a few more followers too! 
I just updated Bill’s site and added a number of good political stories: www.billpostmus.net
Happy 1 year Bill. It was tough at times but you made it!
Bill has an interesting story about a warning of a second credit downgrade: S&P
There are two opposing rumors of sorts out there. First, in this week’s issue of the Sentinel, Mark claims that Supervisor Josie Gonzales filed a Grand Jury complaint in 2006 over the Colonies issues, thus making the powers-that-be aware of some of the overt acts two years before the District Attorney’s office claims they actually knew. This was supposedly part of her Grand Jury testimony last week. That seems to be very problematic if true.
And, in the opposite direction is word that by the county waiving attorney/client privilege, the District Attorney has been able to obtain enough information to prosecute Supervisor Gary Ovitt for his part in the Colonies scandal. Apparently, they have emails and other documents that now prove a quid pro quo arrangement between Burum and the three supervisors.
We have confirmed with multiple sources that those who may be indicted by the San Bernardino County Grand Jury in the ongoing corruption scandal have been told they will be allowed to turn themselves in, which is quite a departure in comparison to how Bill Postmus, Jim Erwin, et al., were handled. Of course, this is the right way to do things because not a single one of them is a flight risk. We are wondering if the new AG has had an effect of how things are done or if someone cut a deal. Of course, there are many rumors that certain members of the bench are under investigation and we know positively that Ramos is being looked at closely. Either way, it is interesting to see the disparity in treatment.
I would really like to thank everyone for their support of the new website. On its inaugural day BillPostmus.net received 12,383,546,765 hits, more than Beyoncé, Paris, and Justin altogether. Jim has the rich and powerful, which we learned today total over 100,000; I have the little people which are unimportant but loud; and Bill has the pygmies. In between foraging for berries for breakfast and hunting wild boar for dinner in the hills of . . . can’t remember where pygmies live (must have ditched Geography class that day), they spend their time on their iPhones reading every word of BillPostmus.net. Thank God for the pygmies!!! Who needs the rich and powerful when you have pygmies!
Bill Postmus
How many of you remember the interview George Watson conducted with Bill Postmus a few years ago? It was while Bill was still Assessor. George posted the audio of the interview to the Sun site.
I was in Gallop, New Mexico that day working on a site for some missionaries when I received a call from Paul Bosacki asking if I had listened to the interview, which I had not. A high-speed internet connection was very hard to find in Gallop. George called me a little later to tell me about it as well.
I got a text message tonight telling me to take a look at www.iecrookwatch.com. Thanks a lot guys!! 
Bill’s plea really has changed the current content of iePolitics. Despite Jim’s claims to Jeff, Neil, et al., to the contrary, Bill does not have anything to do with the content of this blog—at least not any more than anyone else that might send me an article or tell me about something in the news I have missed.
I think everyone has noticed I changed the blog format a few days ago. This new theme is extremely versatile and you will see some significant changes overtime. I added the cross masthead last night with the intent of leaving it up just for Easter and then replacing it. But as I started to write this post, I decided to leave it up longer as I need a reminder of why we do what we do and that we need to be doing it for the right reasons.
This post is the third in the series about those things that occurred behind the scenes that made Bill’s guilty plea came about. It’s about those who fight for justice, not for justice sake, but for selfish reasons; for self-preservation.
I started to see a change in Bill’s attitude after Rex’s first trial ended in a mistrial. It was hard not to have a change in attitude because we knew the facts of the case, facts that never saw the light of day in the courtroom during either trial. The mistrial should have been a “not guilty” verdict.
Happy nine months!
Many seemed surprised by the events on Monday but if they had read the blog carefully, they should have seen it coming. I really did give a number of hints.
As I wrote in the Examiner article the other night, the turning point came with Bill’s last arrest. I remember having lunch with him a week or so later. He had totally shut us all out after the arrest for a couple of days. Jim wanted us to play hardball with him but I could not do that. Bill finally agreed to have lunch with me but the condition was that we would not talk about what happened.
The prohibition didn’t last long. We spent a very long time talking about the arrest and his determination to beat his addiction. I remember the tears in his eyes as he talked about how humiliated he was for not being able to stay clean. Those who don’t know Bill do not realize how driven he is to succeed. Being beat by a drug was hard on him.
19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Over the years, I have quoted the above passage many times. I think a good many of our core readers find iePolitics because they have been wronged in some way.
Today, I have had one of those teary-eyed days. I learned yesterday that it appeared the district attorney was acting fast and a criminal grand jury was being empanelled to indict most or all of the corruption figures. Although not confirmed, I heard today that all five John Does have been served. I am also hearing that the current charges may be dropped against Jim Erwin so to avoid a preliminary hearing and that he will be indicted as well. We shall see.
My first question to my source was, “So that means Mark Kirk was served?” I cannot help but think back to January 1, 2010, the last time I spoke with Mark.
In a surprise move this past Monday, former San Bernardino County Assessor and former Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Bill Postmus, agreed to plead guilty to two charges in the ongoing corruption investigation into a 2006 settlement in which the county paid $102 million to Colonies Partners to end a 4-year legal battle. Also, as part of the plea deal, Postmus pleaded guilty to one count of misappropriation of funds in a separate investigation into the Assessor’s Office.
Bill Postmus started his career as an elected official in 2000 at the age of 29, becoming the youngest member of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors since the 1800s. He was a rising star that some went so far as to say could wind up in the White House one day. Under his leadership, both his district, the largest county supervisorial district in the contiguous 48 states, and the San Bernardino County Republican Party, prospered.
But part way into his second term, things began to change. Scuttlebutt started to be heard as early as 2005 and increased exponentially once Postmus announced he was running for Assessor while he was chairman of the Board of Supervisors. It was a move everyone questioned as Postmus was the most powerful politico in the county and the Assessor would not wield nearly as much influence.
To read the rest of the story, click here.
I apologize about not getting the stories posted last night. Both my computer’s battery and I ran out of energy about 3 a.m. I’ve been busy today taking care of some things for my attorney. The stories will be up some time tonight.
The hits are a little high so I know everyone is waiting for an update. I have to get an Examiner story done first, which I will cross post here, and then there will be a post on the behind-the-scenes issues that led up to today. If you are a regular reader of the blog, we have given you lots of hints this was coming and the reasons for it, but I will spell it out with as much detail as I can reveal later tonight. It may be midnight or later before its posted, so if you are not a night owl like me, it will be top story in the morning. Continue reading
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.
Today seven current or retired members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were indicted on a variety of felonies involving falsification of training records that resulted in higher rates of pay and higher retirement allowances. Among those indicted were retired Assistant Sheriff Mike Stodelle, Lieutenant Russell Wilke, Detective David Pichotta, and retired Lieutenant Bill Maddox. Pichotta is the former son-in-law of retired Sheriff Gary Penrod.
Others indicted include retired Captain Hobart Gray, who is charged with perjury, grand theft and conspiracy; his wife Angie Gray, charged with three counts of conspiracy, two counts of attempted grand theft, and one county of grand theft; and Sallyann Christian, charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of grand theft.
Bill Postmus—Elected Official
Gary Penrod and Rod Hoops—Elected Officials
Bill Postmus—Accused of conspiracy in allowing employees to receive pay they were not eligible for.
Gary Penrod and Rod Hoops—Conspired to cover up 27 employees who received pay for which they were not entitled as well as having committed a minimum of 27 misdemeanors and/or felonies.
In a comment one of the bloggers asked me something along those lines. This is a post I have been trying to write for a week or so. If you dare to read it, expect it to be long and rambling as I have a lot to say about the scandal, the defendants and the John Does. I’m not even sure where to start.
Much of what I think about the Colonies scandal is no different that what I thought a year ago after the arrests were made and the John Does were “named.” But some has.
It’s hard to believe that it has been six months since I awoke to a text message from the Daily Press stating that Bill had been arrested in court for being under the influence. But six months it has been and what a wild six months at that!
The first 90 days were tough and I had my doubts many times. From brutal court days to betrayal after betrayal by those who owe their careers to him, there were plenty of excuses to use. But Bill had made a commitment to himself and to God and his parents that with their help he would make it this time. With time his commitment became more controlling than the drug.
I’m sure some may have read Sally Creb’s comment below. Here is an excerpt:
Let’s hear some facts, how is my husband “linked in various ways” to the corruption in this County, anymore than you are? Because he is a “Burum associate”? You are right there, but more importantly, he is Jeff’s friend, and need I remind you, Jeff has not been charged or arrested for anything, unlike your associates. Based on your rationalization, and not knowing you, should I assume you are a drug addict or criminal by your association with Postmus?
This is the first time someone associated with one of the partners has publicly suggested that perhaps a corruption scandal figure is guilty of exactly what former Attorney General Jerry Brown and District Attorney Mike Ramos has accused them of.
iePolitics just received the list for the first round of county officials to be depo’d in the Postmus civil case. The list is being sent to County Counsel this week.
Congrats Bill. You made it through another month. Looking forward to 180 days.
Barb Stanton
It seems Barb Stanton has seen the light. Anyone who ever listened to her radio show for more than five minutes knows that she could not get through three sentences in a row without finding some way to blame former-Assessor Bill Postmus for something . . . anything . . . extrovert. There is no one she made more vile, vicious and often iniquitous comments about.
That was then. This is now . . . now that she has become a Apple Valley Town mayor pro tem. She has seen the light.
Editor’s Note: This is John Doe No. 2
State Fish and Game Commissioner Dan Richards is also a developer with a history of clashing with environmental groups.
Now those groups are trying to play hardball to get him removed, alleging undisclosed conflicts of interests — and an intimate involvement in the saga of disgraced San Bernardino County assessor Bill Postmus. The environmentalists’ initial attack was dismissed in the courts, but they say others are coming.
Richards, meanwhile, has denied all wrongdoing.
It seems these milestones occur so quickly. Perhaps that is because with each passing day Bill Postmus’ sobriety becomes so much more pronounced. I never knew this Bill and watching as he regains his strength, fortitude, and memory demonstrates to me why he was such a force to be reckoned with during his first four years in office.
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:
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:
Bob Smith
How would you feel if you had a substance abuse problem, asked for help, and then found out that the person who was helping was using his position to gather information about you? That is exactly what Bob Smith has done.
Former San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and Assessor’s Department employee Bob Smith has been a recovering alcoholic for years. He is a member of Sheriff’s Department SEAT Team, which assists deputy sheriffs who are willing to admit they have a substance abuse problem get into rehab.
When I wrote “Forty Days and Forty Nights,” I had no idea I would get the amount of feedback I did on it. It didn’t receive a lot of comments on the blog, but it did generate a tremendous number of private emails and phone calls, all of which were positive. Of all of the blog entries I have ever written, only “Bloodstains” came close to rivaling the emotional response of “Forty.”
Unlike some of the trolls here on the blog, those who contacted me privately were concerned about Bill Postmus, the person, more than the headlines. They understand we all have our demons but most of us don’t have to deal with them on the front page of the newspaper for months and years. They understand both the struggles of trying to stay clean and the importance and significance what he had accomplished under the circumstances in which he had accomplished it.
This afternoon Judge Michael A. Smith dropped one of two charges against former Taxpayer Advocate Greg Eyler and two of ten charges against former Assessor Bill Postmus at the close of today’s preliminary hearing. Attorneys for the defendants will now decide what motions will be filed to address those charges that were bound over.
Sources are telling iePolitics that a former Postmus friend and her fiancé, a 24-year Army veteran, have been accessing his email illegally until recently. In the context of yesterday’s revelations that Adam Aleman wore a wire even before the plea deal, we can only guess who or what is behind this. Sources are saying that Postmus is filing a criminal complaint against these two individuals. More to come.
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.
Bob Smith
Certain subjects generate a lot of hits, while others a lot of comments, and still others a lot of private email. For having a common name, stories on Bob Smith always generate a lot of negative emotion in the form of phone calls and email. Our last story on this Bob Smith was no exception.
Much of what we received this time around has to do with Smith’s shenanigans in Yermo rather than the fraud he committed in the county. We will save the Yermo story for a few days as I am trying to verify some of that information.
The most laughable information this time was from a deputy sheriff who wanted to tell me that Smith had tried to convince the residents of Helendale to give up their services from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, form their own police department, and make him chief of police. If you’ve never been to Helendale . . . well think of Andy and Barney and you’ll get an idea of what a Helendale Police Department would be like. The guy always has a scheme.
Supervisor Paul Biane
As details of San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane’s run-in with the law while attending a football game in Indiana come to light, it is becoming apparent a cover-up took place. For five long years Biane hid his dirty little secret from his colleagues and his constituents. With the four remaining supervisors each affirming their dedication to transparency, initiating an investigation into Biane’s misdeeds is the right thing to do.
Two years ago county supervisors expressed outrage when then-Assessor Bill Postmus was accused of substance abuse and violation of county policies. We now learn that one of those very same supervisors has his own issues with substance abuse and violation of county policies. Unlike Postmus, Supervisor Biane has already been found guilty of the crime and has offered no proof he has complied with county policy in reporting his arrest and subsequent conviction.
Supervisor Paul Biane
San Bernardino County Second District Supervisor Paul Biane fancies himself to be a crime fighter. Just ask him. Or better yet, check out his campaign mailers where he takes credit for exposing the current corruption scandal. He seems to forget he is named as John Doe No. 5 in the scandal he is claiming responsibility for uncovering. In other words, he exposed his own wrongdoing. And in his mind that means he should be re-elected to office.
Biane’s memory of past events seems to be failing. For example, we find out today he forgot to tell his constituents about his other criminal activity, that is, until he was reminded of it by an article in The Sun. Not telling us until now about his arrest five years ago for driving under the influence while in Illinois could be just an oversight we suppose. But exactly how does one forget for four years that his driver’s license was suspended? It seems he should have been reminded of that each time he turned the key in the ignition of his county-owned vehicle.
Biane’s memory got faulty again when he returned home from Illinois. He forgot to mention his arrest when he returned to his job. Employees who drive county-owned vehicles are required to report any vehicle-related arrests to their supervisor, or in this case, Chairman Bill Postmus, or at very least, then-County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer. Biane forgot . . . again.
Bud Randle and Co. seem enthralled with Bill Postmus’ personal life, which likely means some of them have their own issues in that area if you know what I mean. Yep, lots of rednecks have secret alternative lifestyles preferences.
Rather than concentrating their cases on his “criminal” activity, they have been far more interested in his love life. Their exploitation has become egregious to the point that it seems they are purposely attempting to push him over the edge. This time around the harassment is strengthening his resolve rather than weakening it. I am happy to say that Bill now has 70 days clean and sober and the random drug tests to prove it. Wonder what Bud will try next?
This week we expect to see San Bernardino County Human Resources director Andrew Lamberto recalled to the stand in the trial of Rex Gutierrez. After Lamberto’s testimony two weeks ago where he clearly perjured himself on the stand, several of us worked behind the scenes to bring his most recent crime out in the public.
After his perjured testimony at the beginning of this year, I sent the following email to the BOS. It should be noted that email sent to the addresses I used goes directly to their personal Blackberries/iPhones.
Subject: So when is everyone going to receive equal treatment?
Adam Aleman
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.
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.”
Today marks 60 days clean and sober. The second 30 days were definitely more of a challenge than the first 30 but days like this past Friday seem to make Bill’s resolve all the stronger. Looking forward to Day 90. Congratulations Bill!
District Attorney Mike Ramos
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:
If my health holds up this weekend, there will be stories about what happened today and about the criminal case all weekend long. I thought I would share a few more tidbits.
Lewis Cope is a Mormon. I have found most Mormons to be good people. But then there are those that try to force their church’s bigoted attitudes on everyone else. When one is a District Attorney, they should be enforcing state law, not church law. Cope has a different view.
I could have subtitled this “My morning with Bill” because being friends with Bill Postmus never leaves a dull moment. This morning was no exception. There will be several entries detailing all that happened this morning.
A few days ago Bill asked me if I would attend his preliminary hearing today. He simply wanted a little moral support for a change. I’ve been sick all week, and this morning was no exception, but I managed to make it to the courthouse before the hearing started.
I had no intention of blogging about today as I was there as a friend. I did not have a computer with me and I only planned to observe. But the District Attorney’s office had other ideas.
Bill and Jim had a hearing on the case they share just before Bill’s preliminary hearing with Greg Eyler. We were all waiting in the hall but the hall had to be cleared to get a chain gang from another courtroom, so the bailiff allowed us to sit in Judge Smith’s courtroom where the preliminary hearing was scheduled to be held.
We know we don’t have many qualified analysts in county government. Nothing could be more obvious with two facts that came out this week.
We discovered that the investigation of the century has so far cost the District Attorney’s Office over $4 million. No, it costs taxpayers over $4 million. Does anyone realize how much fraud Bill Postmus has been accused of that they are trying to collect on?
I don’t have the exact amount but it is between $1100 and $1200. Even if convicted, does anyone think he is going to do jail time for that? Do all of you really believe this matter is worth over $4 million?
What’s funny is that the only possible conviction outside of Adam they could get in these cases is Greg Eyler AND that is only if he somehow chickens out and takes a plea deal. But don’t count on it.
One of his charges MUST be dropped altogether for reasons I will not explain. And the other charge MUST be reduced to a misdemeanor. On the latter, the law is totally on his side so he would be a fool to take a plea just to get on with life a little sooner. As long as he can hang on, his cases will go away.
“I am always troubled when the publicity regarding a case exceeds the evidence,” Levenson said. “It creates these incredibly high expectations, and it’s very damaging to the defendants, and we don’t even know if the evidence will support the charges.”
Laurie LevensonFormer Federal Prosecutor and Professor of LawLoyola Law School(Excerpt from article printed in The Sun on 08/26/2010)
Sunday, September 26, 2010 – 3:00 p.m.
What a difference six months can make.
After nearly a year and a half of making claims of political retaliation. The facts seem to be coming home to roost.
The defendants in the alleged conspiracy case involving the $102 million dollar settlement between the County of San Bernardino and Colonies Partners have now received substantial evidence in the case, including the grand jury testimony of current and former county supervisors, former county administrative officer Mark Uffer and his moral compass, various county staffers, and other witnesses.
Today’s article by Joe Nelson of the Sun is almost amusing to those of us who have been close to San Bernardino County’s “biggest corruption scandal in the county’s history.” Joe has finally figured out what we have been telling him for a year or so now. Yes, D-Day is nearing and it ain’t gonna be pretty.
The local media has not missed a beat in the years-long corruption scandal. There has been nary a day without a headline or two referencing some aspect of the ongoing investigation, arrests, and prosecution.
But the reporting has been a bit skewed. Well, actually, some reporters have seemed incapable of critical thinking or even basic investigative reporting. Almost all have taken a “if Mike Ramos said it, it must be true” approach to these stories.
The text I received two days ago read, “38 days clean and sober.” Thirty-eight days out of a lifetime isn’t even a drop in the bucket, but for someone going through the recovery process, every successful minute is precious and hard fought.
Hours later Bill and I were texting back and forth with information for an article I was working on. As the project was nearly complete, I received a text that read, “You’re learning more about politics than you ever wanted to know.”