Tag Archives: Jim Erwin

iePolitics: So Jim, was it really worth it?

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This is the post that started the problems between Jim Erwin and me:  Cook  After I posted it and a couple of others regarding an opponent running against Supervisor Derry, Jim called me about 11 p.m. one night last December about as pissed off as I had ever heard him. 

Jim was convinced that “tweaker” Bill Postmus was planting ideas in my head and running my blog.  Of course, Bill had next to nothing to do with my posts or my blog.  He seems to forget that as the owner of this blog and due to my stints as director of publicity and newsletter editor for RWF and an even shorted stint on the Republican Central Committee, I have a source or two all my own. 

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iePolitics: Oh, Jim! – Part Two

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I have written a time or two about how I don’t believe that a man who is willing to violate the most important covenant in his life, the marriage covenant, can be trusted to keep his word or show integrity with anything else.  Jim is the epitome of that concept.

Jim’s affair with Liz Sanchez has been making local papers for years now.  And then after he left his wife for Liz, he is accused of being with prostitutes while on the infamous trip to New York with Jeff Burum.  Of course he is also accused of a felony or two unrelated to his sex life.

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SBSun: Defendants convicted without a trial

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Editor’s Note:  I am a bit late in getting this posted due to lack of Internet access; however, I felt it is an important article.  The Sun and Press Enterprise stories have been very one-sided and seem to be written to taint the jury pool on purpose.

By Paul M. Mahoney
Posted: 08/04/2011 06:23:06 PM PDT

I live in Los Angeles County and am not involved as a participant in any way in the Colonies litigation.

This is in response to your editorial “Appalling portrait of leadership,” July 27. Usually, the newspaper maintains high journalistic integrity, but that editorial did not measure up. It is almost as if the newspaper, with that editorial and prior expos type articles about the Colonies settlement, is attempting to convict the defendants before there has been a trial.

You continuously refuse to acknowledge that the plaintiffs’ demand to settle was $300 million and just assume the $102 million settlement was a wasteful gift of public funds. Had no settlement been reached and had a jury awarded $200 million, would you have written the same editorial criticizing the San Bernardino County supervisors for not attempting to settle the case for less than the jury awarded?

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iePolitics: So who’s in the most trouble?

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Jeff Burum

Due to the lack of an internet connection I have had to sit on the sidelines watching things transpire since the release of the transcripts last Friday.  I noticed the very BIG difference in reporting between the Sun and the Press Enterprise.  The Sun’s first story was just terrible.  It was choppy and didn’t make sense.  They have now revised it several times and it is a bit better.

The Press Enterprise, on the other hand, seemed to try for quality rather than speed and produced much better articles.  That being said, there is one gigantic omission in the Press Enterprise stories that make a big difference.

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iePolitics: Who’s on top? – Part Two

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When we wrote “Who’s on top?” back in February, we had no idea just how prophetic we were.  Now almost three months later Mark Kirk and Jim Erwin have been arrested along with Paul Biane and Jeff Burum.  You could call them the Four Musketeers, or the Four Banditos, or even the Colonies Four.  You could, but . . .

It seems that Jeff Burum’s charges really could be dropped but we still believe it will have to be done with a writ.  I guess the legal Beagles at the District Attorney’s and Attorney General’s office screwed up just a bit.  So that brings us down to the Three Musketeers, or  the Three Banditos, or the Colonies Three.  Except . . .

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iePolitics: Now that the three-ring circus is over

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I’ve been taken aback by some of the comments about the arrests of Jim Erwin, Mark Kirk, Paul Biane, and Jeff Burum.   At a personal level I was glad to see a couple of them arrested, not because I believe they should have been, but because they need to get off of their high horses and find out what it feels like to be wrongly accused by someone looking to strengthen their own political power.  All four were very powerful men who had a chance to prevent this from happening but chose to look the other way because it wasn’t their lives and livelihoods being affected. Now it is and it doesn’t feel so good to be on the receiving end.  That doesn’t make what happened to them right.

From the legal, the ethical, and the Constitutional level, what happened this week is wrong.  Cassie MacDuff’s comment is one of the egregious statements, outside of those by District Attorney Mike Ramos, that shows those who claim to want law and order want no such thing.  In reference to having to spend two nights in jail and have bail set exorbitantly high, she wrote:

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iePolitics: Hey boys, remember one name . . . Andrew Lamberto

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Jim Erwin

Jeff Burum

Mark Kirk

Paul Biane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, how do you boys feel now? Were the accommodations comfy? Food good?  Those stainless steel toilets are really special, aren’t  they?  Some people deserve such extravagance.   Like Rex. Because “He lied.”

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iePolitics: So will we see “witness tampering” added to Erwin’s charges?

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We keep hearing that is going to happen.  We also hear it is in connection with his blog.  It shall be interesting to see if the District Attorney’s office actually does it.  For the record, if they carry through with the threat, despite the differences Jim and I have, I think it is total bullshit and a violation of the First Amendment.

On a totally separate issue, I cannot find the Grand Jury witness list.  I’m told it is on line.  Can someone post the link?

iePolitics: We were right

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At least we were right to a degree.  I’m talking about the District Attorney’s office asking for and getting excessively high bails on the latest arrestees, Jeff Burum, Jim Erwin, Mark Kirk and Paul Biane.

I have not hidden the fact that I wanted to see these guys arrested . . . vengeance, karma, the golden rule . . .whatever.  They needed to be shown some humility like so many of the rest of us.

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iePolitics: Were they tricked?

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Over the past few months, iePolitics has been given lots of info regarding the various scandals that often has seemed to be a setup.  Sometimes we print it; sometimes we don’t.

When I posted my “pool‘ post, it was based on backroom chatter we had been hearing, not the “info” usually sent our way through various channels.  Then on Sunday we heard that the John Does had been notified by the district attorney’s office that they would be allowed to turn themselves in.  We verified that yesterday and posted the indictment update.

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iePolitics: Update on indictments

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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.

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iePolitics: Jeff and Neil: Do you really want to share a cell with Jim?

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We are hearing some pretty crazy stuff, except I’m beginning to think it’s not so crazy after all.  Anyone who knows Erwin knows he like to run his mouth.  But this time around it appears he has got the AG and DA believing it.  And I’m not so convinced he is making it up either.

  1. Jeff, does Jim really have $100,000,000 backing him in his defense?
  2. Neil, are you and Jim really closer than ever?  Are you really going to go down fighting together?

Seriously, if all the things Jim is sending our way are true, you two better be ready to meet Bubba.  I suspect Mikey is making those arrangements for you as I write this.

iePolitics: Behind the scenes, Part Three

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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.

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iePolitics: Update on Erwin Case

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As we expected, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office has requested a postponement of the Erwin preliminary hearing scheduled for Monday.  Judge Duke Rouse will rule on the motion on Monday.

Testimony continues before the criminal Grand Jury where we expect to see a number of the unnamed co-conspirators indicted.  It is conceivable that the district attorney will drop charges against Erwin and then indict him to avoid the preliminary hearing altogether.  Erwin has subpoenaed several current and former officials including District Attorney Mike Ramos.

We expect Rouse to rule in the District Attorney’s favor.

iePolitics: A new blog

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Blogging is definitely not for the faint of heart or for the thin skinned.  It does not matter what one writes, someone will take exception to it and will use a number of expletives in the process.  The anonymity of blogging brings out people’s dark sides.  Blogging also brings out truths that otherwise would not see the light of day.  It’s up to the readers to muddle through and decide for themselves what is truth and what is not..

Sometimes things that are written are just not true and other times the truth hurts a lot.   Whether it is the truth or not, most want to defend their good names.  Some go so far as to fight fire with fire.

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iePolitics: War of words

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I have to admit I was surprised to see retired Judge Chris Warner’s response to former supervisor Dennis Hansberger’s accusations regarding the Colonies settlement.  I was also surprised Judge Warner recently retired.  My understanding is he is battling a serious illness, which may account for his retirement and his need to speak his peace.

I have said from the beginning that no matter what anyone else has done in reference to the Colonies settlement, I believe Judge Warner acted in good faith and in accordance with the law.  I was Judge Warner’s first secretary when he was appointed to the bench.  He was meticulous and conscientious about his decisions.  He was very highly regarded.

I argued at length with a newspaper reporter not long ago about Judge Warner and his background.  I cannot remember for sure if Judge Warner ever worked as a prosecutor, but he came from a solid private practice.  He did not need the money.  As a matter of fact, he likely took a pay cut when appointed to the bench.  He also did not answer to the district attorney like so many other judicial appointments do.

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iePolitics: Behind the scenes, Part Two

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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.

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iePolitics: Subpoenas and Johnson letters

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Both the Sun and Press Enterprise are running stories tonight to tell you what we already did.  Four supervisors are being subpoenaed—Brad Mitzelfelt, Neil Derry, Gary Ovitt, and Josie Gonzales—to testify before a special grand jury convened since former Assessor Bill Postmus signed a plea deal to cooperate in the ongoing corruption investigations.

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Examiner.com: Former county assessor and chairman of the board agrees to plead guilty

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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.

iePolitics: See County Fly

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Coflyonthewall wrote:  How petty can you be? I read Mr. Erwins blog for daily facts about the county, state, and national news. yours for funny gossip and “whats happening around town”. Juicy, probably not true gossip. At least he’s not giving us hard luck stories and begging for money all the time. How many times have you shut down?? All the time Mr. Erwin manages his blog without hard luck stories. My, my, my. my, my! Also he prints, everthing thing. Lets see if you do!

I apologize for the delay but I have not had much in the way of internet access  in the past couple of days.  I think you deserve a reply for several reasons.

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iePolitics: LaJolla, Dean, Rogers, etc.

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Life has been A LOT busy lately, and honestly, some things I just don’t care enough about to bother answer justifying my actions.  However, I have a lull right now and thought I would take a few moments to explain a little about what happened with LaJolla, Traci Dean, Little Stevie Wonder (Steve Rogers), etc.

Back on January 5 I met with Traci Dean and Patricia Winkler for the first time.  I was aware of Traci for quite some time through Barb’s website and Traci’s postings on iePolitics.  I decided it was time to compare notes.

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iePolitics: Gutierrez transferred to Tehachapi

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Rex Gutierrez has now been transferred to the next leg of his incarceration.  He is currently residing at Tehachapi.  He says the food is much better than at West Valley.  I’m sure all of his co-defendants and unnamed co-conspirators will want to visit him just like they all did at West Valley.  You need to let his wife know to tell him to send you a form so you can be cleared.

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iePolitics: More on Colonies–Is there any integrity left?

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When I started to write the last entry on the Colonies corruption scandal, I had in my mind where I wanted to go with the post.   Unfortunately, that’s not where I ended up.  I thought I would try again.

The idea for this post had been floating around in the back of my mind for a week or so when somehow Bill and I got started talking about dying and the afterlife.  Bill made a comment to me “At least I know where I’m going when I die so I’m not afraid of death.”

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iePolitics: What I think of the Colonies scandal a year later

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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.

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iePolitics: So Sally, you want some proof?

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So Sally, I am going to make you a deal  that I make anyone who accuses me of lying.  I will take a polygraph on what I’m about to write if Jeff Burum, the partners, Jim Erwin and Mark Kirk will also take polygraphs.

Here are two Jeff Burum stories:

Almost two years ago I had a running conversation going with Mark Kirk about ethics in San Bernardino County.  My argument to Mark was that if one is in a position of power, as he was, one has an obligation to right wrongs.  Mark and I disagreed about this.

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iePolitics: So why don’t we have a new District Attorney?

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Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach was sworn in today, replacing the only district attorney in the state of California who could rival San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos in terms of political persecutions.  As a matter of fact, former-Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco seemed to have totally lost it in the final days of his term.  His behavior could only be called bizarre.

We are not ready to say Ramos is equally bizarre.  But he is still a predator, a predator who could be retired as of today had promises been kept.

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iePolitics: Predictions for 2011

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First off, it’s a little late in the day, but HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone.  Let’s start  with the easy predictions first.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center

If the Federal Bureau of Investigation has control of the investigation and is conducting it thoroughly, we have every reason to believe that Mark Uffer, Josie Gonzales, Paul Biane, Dr. Dev GnanaDev, and Jessica Brown will be indicted.  There could be numerous other elected and appointed officials involved as well but those are the names we hear were on the search warrants.

This prediction is based on my own observations while I worked at ARMC as well as talking with those that were required to provide officials with service.  My former desk partner had worked in the emergency room and was responsible for processing in many “VIPs.”

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iePolitics: So who is going to be arrested next?

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Editor:  You have to read down to the very end of this article to see that Ramos claims there may be more arrests in 2011.

Corruption probes cast wide net

Investigators pursue cases across county
Posted: 12/30/2010 05:47:55 PM PST
Updated: 12/30/2010 06:49:15 PM PST

The past year has been fraught with scandal in San Bernardino County as state and local prosecutors charged two former county officials in a sweeping corruption complaint related to a $102million land dispute and convicted a third former county official on charges of fraud, theft and conspiracy.Also in 2010, federal investigators raided the county’s Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton and Upland City Hall in what appear to be unrelated investigations.

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iePolitics: Is Mark Kirk the last John Doe Standing?

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Mark Kirk

All of the corruption figures and John Does are now off of the Fifth Floor and elsewhere in the county—except for John Doe No. 4, that is.  Bill Postmus,  defendant; Jim Erwin, defendant; Greg Eyler, defendant; Rex Gutierrez,  prisoner; and Paul Biane, John Doe No. 5 are all gone. Somehow Mark Kirk has avoided arrest and prosecution so far.  But we hear the investigation is far from over.

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Capitol Weekly: Enviros target Fish & Game commissioner

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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.

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iePolitics: Rouse leaves major reductions of charges open

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Last Friday Judge Duke D. Rouse denied the defense’s motion to drop almost all charges in the Erwin FPPC case because he indicated that it needed to be reviewed at the preliminary hearing.  He did say that if those charges all involved a single form, they would not likely survive the prelim.  They all do in fact involve a single form.

We expect the prelim to take place early February.  It shall be interesting to see what happens.

iePolitics: No reason to let the truth get in the way of a conviction

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According to Adam Aleman, Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum called former Assessor Bill Postmus and told him to give Rex Gutierrez a job.  And the District Attorneys office is quite happy to let the jury think that.  It makes their story of a grand conspiracy all the more believable.  There is one problem.  DA investigators never bothered to follow up on Aleman’s claim to verify it.

The truth is a little different.  What actually happened, had the investigators bothered to ask, is Burum and Jim Erwin were talking, as they often do since they are friends.  Burum mentioned Gutierrez and the fact he needed a job closer to home.  Burum asked if there were any jobs open in the Assessor’s Office—ANY!

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

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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.

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SB Sentinel: Court Filing Contradicts Cortes’ Form 700s

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Grand Terrace City Councilwoman Bea Cortes

Friday, October 15, 2010

Grand Terrace City Councilwoman Bea Cortes consistently failed to disclose a significant portion of the income she received on the financial interest disclosure forms she was required to fill out throughout her tenure as an elected official, court documents Cortes herself filed in conjunction with her divorce show.

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

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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.”

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

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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:

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iePolitics: Games being played by District Attorney in Judge Smith’s courtroom

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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.

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iePolitics: Cost benefit analysis – not!

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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.

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InlandPolitics: Conspiracy evidence reinforces ‘politically-motivated’ allegation

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“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 Levenson
Former Federal Prosecutor and Professor of Law
Loyola Law School
(Excerpt from article printed in The Sun on 08/26/2010)

www.inlandpolitics.com

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.

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iePolitics: D-Day is nearing

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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.

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InlandPolitics: The Insider: Was Jerry Brown lied to?

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  • Written by The Insider
  • Posted August 29, 2010 at 2:46 pm

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?

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iePolitics: The power of the internet

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This video was posted by a friend on my Facebook page yesterday.  I had to take a look.

Watching the video reminded me of a story I have been going to write for a while.  Here is an average, almost geeky, regional cover band, and in two months this video has topped six million hits.  It’s entertaining, no doubt—awesome and funny at the same time.  But that is not the point.  The point is that 20 years ago, this would still be a regional cover band—one that no one had ever heard about, much less seen.   But the internet has changed the way information is delivered to us.

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iePolitics: Our demise will come from within

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A constant them on this blog is the blatant violation of rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States that we witness in this county.  I am asked often why I stand up for former Assessor Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin.

Something many of our readers seem to forget is that I stood up for both prior to ever knowing either one. And the answer to the question as to why is simple.  I believe that the constitutional rights of every individual accused in the corruption scandal have been trampled over.

Many of you feel strongly that all of the corruption figures are guilty so, therefore, District Attorney Mike Ramos and Attorney General Jerry Brown are within their purview to do anything necessary to gain a conviction.  And it is that thinking that is driving the United States of America into the ground.

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iePolitics: The master manipulator

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Today someone shared some history with me regarding former Assessor Bill Postmus’ drug addiction that provided one more piece of the puzzle.  It has been confirmed with several of the participants.

Postmus’ attempts at rehabilitation have been written about extensively.  I do not know the statistic for permanently successful rehabilitation, but I know it is very low.  Few people go into rehab once and never have an issue again.

Bill’s first or second attempt occurred after a huge fight with Jim Erwin where the two got into a screaming match over Bill’s addiction.  At that point Bob Smith basically forced Bill to pack and transported him to the Pine Ridge Treatment Center in Lucerne Valley.

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