Category Archives: Mike Ramos

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: More about the Postmus prelim

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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.

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The Sentinel: Ramos Probing GOP Central Committee

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The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has widened its investigation into allegations of wrongdoing on the part of current and past public officials and is now seeking documentation from the county Republican Central Committee, the Sentinel has learned.

As part of a probe that all parties concerned had hoped might remain unnoticed by the public at large, investigators for district attorney Mike Ramos have been calling upon the San Bernardino County GOP to turn over some “books” for review.

Sources tell the Sentinel that Nan Rider, the former San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee member  who was previously  chosen to serve as the secretary to the central committee’s elite ruling executive committee but was later relieved of that duty by current central committee chairman Robert Rego, has been less than cooperative in making the requested documentation available.

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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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iePolitcs: A perfect example of Ruthie’s malfeasance

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Here is another perplexing board item on Tuesday’s San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Agenda:

County Counsel
19) Approve Agreement with Gresham, Savage, Nolan & Tilden to provide representation and related legal services in connection with the litigation entitled Cheryl Ristow v. County of San Bernardino, et al., Case No. CIVDS 1010909 (Four votes required).

(Affected Districts: All)
(Presenter: Ruth E. Stringer, County Counsel, 387-5451)

Remember, District Attorney Mike Ramos, during the City-County Conference and in front of dozens of county and city officials, asked if he could “eat Ruth’s pussy.”  Well it looks like Ruthie wants to return the favor, figuratively speaking, that is.

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iePolitics: Sentinel article on SBGOP

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There is an interesting article on the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee on the front page of today’s Sentinel.  It can be found in the menu bar above.

Two thing strike me about the article.  First, after the fiasco earlier this year where District Attorney Mike Ramos tried to strong arm an endorsement the SBGOP refused to give him, this is not surprising from a district attorney who specializes in political payback.

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SbGrapevine: Editorial: When will the BOS learn its lesson? – Part 1

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www.sbgrapevine.com

Emasculated.  Impotent.  Ineffectual.  Powerless.  Debilitated.  Cowardly.  Weak.

Anyone of these adjectives is an appropriate descriptor of the current five members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors individually and as a not-so-well functioning governing board.  Never was it so obvious as it was on Tuesday.

More than a year and a half ago many astute observers began to realize the Board of Supervisors had a problem.  Several high-ranking staffers, including County Counsel Ruth Stringer, had become disloyal.  In reality, the situation worsened to far beyond disloyal.

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iePolitics: Poor Mikey – Those damn insignificant blogs

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I was very disheartened to learn from www.inlandpolitics.com that the Ramos Manifesto had been taken off of the District Attorney’s website.  The Unibomber-like diatribe, along with other actions, was proof positive that Ramos did not attend an accredited law school, flunked out of Legal Research 101 and Constitutional Law 101, and does most of what he does because he is either 1) feeling horny or 2) feeling vindictive.

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InlandPolitics: The Insider: S.B. County: Will Stringer depart as planned ?

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www.inlandpolitics.com

Sunday, September 26, 2010 – 6:00 p.m.

Will San Bernardino County’s lead attorney retire as scheduled?

Sources say County Counsel Ruth Stringer, who is expected to announce her retirement this week, is actively trying to delay her forced departure.

However, the question inquiring minds want to know is who is Stringer trying to stay around and screw over?

Stringer, one of the culprits responsible for feeding the investigation into San Bernardino County government and her bosses the Board of Supervisors, is said to be lobbying a certain county supervisor to allow her to hang around and cost county taxpayers more money from her incompetent decision-making.

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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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SbGrapevine: Editorial: “Corruption on Steriods”

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County of Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley

www.sbgrapevine.com

Today’s arrest of Robert Rizzo and seven others in the city of  Bell scandal made for a happy day for all citizens who are frustrated and sickened by the corruption that permeates every level of government.  The arrests also highlight what can be done when citizens join forces and let their voices be heard, combined with having elected an experienced prosecutor dedicated to the pursuit of justice.

The Bell scandal has more than one San Bernardino County connection.  As has been well publicized, Rizzo is the former city manager of two San Bernardino County cities, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga.  But the significance runs much deeper.

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iePolitics: The Mike Ramos Manifesto

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Someone sent us all an email the other night about what appeared on San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos’ website. It’s odd, and I supposed it is because we all have a background in criminal justice/law enforcement, but independently we all called it the same thing: The Mike Ramos Manifesto. It really does have the look and feel of something the Unibomber or other crazy would send out.  It’s a lot like correspondence received from inmates that we would see daily at the courthouse.

Both inlandpolitics.com and sbgrapevine.com have stories about it. Take a look.

iePolitics: Brady issues in the District Attorney’s office

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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. Continue reading →

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: Another Fifth Floor arrest . . . or two?

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That is the rumor.  To be more exact, the rumor is that Mark Kirk will be arrested for time card fraud before the Rex Gutierrez case gets underway in a few weeks.  We are also hearing Paul Biane’s arrest is imminent.

These rumors can almost always be traced back to our favorite yellow singing Canary, Confidential Informant No. 1, Mr. Max Factor himself, Adam Aleman.  It seems that every time Mikey has to face bad news he deflects with disinformation through Adam.

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iePolitics: Marijuana and Cocaine use by those on the Fifth Floor

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Pure Peruvian Cocaine

Hypocrite is defined by Webster as:

1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

In case anyone hasn’t noticed, we have a hypocrite or two or three on the fifth floor of the County Government Center.  We have been reminded of that several times during the past couple of years.

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iePolitics: Violating civil rights

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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: 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 Postmus arrest – behind the scenes

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Yesterday’s arrest of former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus was not much of a surprise to anyone close to this case.  What was more of a surprise was how blatantly the San Bernardino County Public Integrity Unit  (PIU) went out of their way to keep from having to present their case at the preliminary hearing.

The first trick up Deputy District Attorney Lewis Cope’s sleeve was to present the defense with “new” evidence from with the previous 48 hours.  Well that was the story.  But the story changed.  Here is the new story according to the Sun:

Prosecutor Lewis Cope expressed disappointment Thursday that he was unable to proceed with the preliminary hearing.

The new report provided to defense attorneys, Cope said, will not change the way he plans to present his case.

“It’s unfortunate in this case that the timing worked out this way, because we would have liked to have moved forward,” Cope said.

The hearing was postponed until September 23, 2010, giving the district attorney more time to investigate the same old stuff even more.  But that’s not what they said, you say.  And you would be quite gullible if you believe what Cope claimed.  His actions yesterday spoke much louder than anything he stated.

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iePolitics: The Ristow Lawsuit

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I wasn’t going to blog about this because there really is no point right now in arguing the merits of the case.  Anyone who has read this blog for any length of time know where I stand on the issue.  No one is going to believe the outcome I predicted months ago until depositions start being taken and evidence that hasn’t been made available yet becomes public.  Some of you are on Cheryl’s side and some of you are on Mike’s side and I’m not going to change anyone’s opinion.

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iePolitics: Supervisor Derry: Clarification and more examples

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Supervisor Derry, since you have so graciously given up some of your Saturday night and Sunday morning to argue with me on the blog, I am going to give up my morning’s Frontierville play to try to explain to you the points I am trying to make.  As upset as I am about this, you are still iePolitics’ favorite supervisor. :)

As an elected official, elected to any office in California whatsoever, you have an obligation to uphold the Constitution of the State of California and the Constitution of the United States.  Hopefully, we both agree on that.

As an elected official, especially as a member of the governing body of the county of San Bernardino, we the public expect you to initiate an investigation when you have reason to suspect or personally witness unethical or illegal behavior by any person or entity under the purview of your jurisdiction.  That investigation may be as simple as referring the matter to Human Resources or as serious as referring it to the Grand Jury.  No one expects you to call in the Calvary for every act or suspected/alleged of malfeasance, but you are expected to at very least have someone in authority look at the situation to determine if there is any justification for further action.

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

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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?

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iePolitics: So Mikey, here is a real conspiracy and bribery case for you

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Mikey, please tell me why you only prosecute some and not others.  You add yet another ridiculous charge to Rex Gutierrez, yet you let the real bad guys go.

We have told you before, and we say it again, you need to go back to law school and study Conspiracy 101 and Bribery 101 again so you can understand the elements of the crime.  Then you need to look at the way in which Scott Ryan got his promotion.

Gary Ovitt was paid off to the tune of $50,000 by SBPEA.  Interview the members of the Board of Directors.  I know some of them will tell you the truth as to how that all went down.

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iePolitics: Too bad the FBI won’t make arrests in the Fourth District and beyond

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I guess I had what some might call an epiphany this week.  Many of our readers would say it is about time.

You see, for the first time since the corruption scandal started, I genuinely want to see Mark Kirk, Gary Ovitt, Greg Devereaux, and others led away in handcuffs, booked and serve some jail time.  Do I believe it will happen?  No, I don’t.  I still feel the Colonies Settlement is clean.

Everything else in the Fourth District office, however,  is not so clean.  But the problem is that neither Mikey and Moonbeam or the FBI will look at the real dirt.  Mikey and Moonbeam are too busy accepting campaign donations from SEBA and SBPEA.  The FBI isn’t interested in the kind of real corruption that goes on in this county.

In this instance, it is simply not the sort of thing the FBI will get involved with.  I’m not suggesting there will not be arrests made, just not arrests of the county’s most corrupt individuals, except possibly Mikey.

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iePolitics: Cop misdeed of the day – Part Two

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This, of course, is an old one.  It only took six years for there to be “justice.”  Note the quotation marks because “justice” is in the eye of the beholder, or in this case, the receiver.

How many of us could do what Daniel Tidwell did, drag the case on for six years, and then get probation and a fine?  Oops, I forgot.  He is the son of the former Sheriff.  Different strokes for different folks.

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iePolitics: The US Department of Justice has been busy today

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iePolitics: BOS: You haven’t had enough yet?

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To the Honorable Members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors,

Haven’t you had enough yet?  Honestly, why wasn’t County Counsel Ruth Stringer fired today?  She does not work for County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.  She works for you.  And she should have been fired TODAY!

I only wish I could share with the readers of iePolitics the details of her latest fiasco—a fiasco that has already been expensive and one that almost cost you, the taxpayers, an additional very large sum of money.

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iePolitics: More information on FBI probe

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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.

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iePolitics: County’s top lawyers all on thin ice

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San Bernardino County’s three top lawyers may be “former” employees by year’s end.  San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos, Public Defender Doreen Boxer, and County Counsel Ruth Stringer all are in precarious positions at best.

Although mainstream media has refused to cover the antics of District Attorney Mike Ramos, iePolitics and InlandPolitics have covered them extensively.  We have been accused of libeling poor Mikey.  But the seeds he has sown are about to come back to haunt him and prove that we are the ones with truth on our side.

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iePolitics: Canary caught in a conspiracy?

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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.

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Sam Berdoo: Jason Desjardins and the Court of Public Opinion, Part I

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Despite what to me defies common sense, and despite Jason’s own statements on the public record, he can not legally be prosecuted for any violation of the law that he may have committed in regards to the alleged theft of his illegally transported firearm.  Supposedly, that has a lot to do with “habeas corpus” and no proof that the gun existed. You will have to figure that out for yourself.   Let’s be correct, but not for Jason’s own behavior and his public proclamations, Desjardins would not be in this extremely embarrassing situation.

We need to ask ourselves, “In a time of rampant corruption in San Bernardino County, do we really need to have this kind of person in elected office”.  Elected Officials are subject to a higher standard of scrutiny than the general public. Like most politicians today, Jason is all for transparency, except when it pertains to him.  An Elected Official has a duty, responsibility, and an obligation to adequately explain and answer questions related to  the circumstances surrounding his personal conduct when such subjects are brought into the Court of Public Opinion.  The public has a right to know about the conduct, both  past and present, of their elected representatives.

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iePolitics: Ramos, Penrod, Hoops, and POST

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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

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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.

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iePolitics: Now We Know Why Barb Is Bald

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Residents described the smell as “a pasture ripe with manure and mildew rising and spreading for miles around,” according to Stanton.

During one March 2004 visit to the area, she noticed something odd.

“There was no vegetation growing anywhere near the Adelanto facility—it was strange like a dead zone. I was creeped out and not comfortable near the plant,” she recalls.

We have been trying to figure it out for some time.  What the heck caused Barb to go bald?

We know vegetation doesn’t grow around fertilizer.  That’s a proven fact.  Just ask Barb.

And now we find out she had nothing better to do than hang around piles of shit.  Using the logic we hear Barb express so often, this must be the answer.  Perhaps Barb some Rogaine will counteract all those fumes you sniffed.

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InlandPolitics: The Brown-Biane saga – Part 2

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  • Written by Administrator
  • Posted July 11, 2010 at 6:05 pm

www.inlandpolitics.com

The ongoing saga involving San Bernardino County supervisor Paul Biane and his apparently former chief of staff Matt Brown just keeps getting better and better.

During our last update we informed you that Brown was reportedly balking at taking a position in the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office.

Sources at the time were telling InlandPolitics.com Brown wanted his legal bills paid for by the county.

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iePolitics: More selective prosecution?

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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.

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iePolitics: Hansberger/Ramos to challenge Derry?

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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?

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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

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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?

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SBSun: Chicago-style politics comes to county

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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?

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  • 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.

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

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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. Continue reading →

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

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  • Written by The Insider
  • Posted July 3, 2010 at 11:07 am

Ramos

www.inlandpolitics,com

InlandPolitics.com has learned that five more women have come forward against San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos.

Additional details will be forthcoming during the next 72 hours.

InlandPolitics: Corruption cases problematic for Brown

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Written by The Insider

  • Posted July 1, 2010 at 11:19 am

District Attorney Mike Ramos / Attorney General Jerry Brown

www.inlandpolitics.com

Thursday, July 1, 2010 – 10:00 a.m.

Once thing is for certain.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos drawing Attorney General Jerry Brown into his crusade against his political enemies was a smart move.

Even though Defendant Jim Erwin pushed him into it. Continue reading →

iePolitics: The Significance Has Been Lost

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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: The Restraining Order

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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. Continue reading →

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

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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. Continue reading →

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

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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. Continue reading →