iePolitics: Day Two at the Circus

As I mentioned earlier, this morning consisted of the Confidential Informant No 1, our favorite yellow singing Canary, “persona au gratin” Adam Aleman show.  He was it for today’s first act.  He got just a little taste of what is to come later in the trial when everyone is brought back to impeach him.  From what I hear, his seat got a bit hot today.  Observers say the jury looked disgusted with him, and as with yesterday, seemed bored with Deputy District Attorney Goritz.

For the second act, Harlow Cameron was flown in from his retirement home.  I’m told he qualified almost every answer to the irritation of both the defense and the prosecution.

Ted Lehrer, Joshua White and Sally Hill also testified this afternoon.  Some of their testimony helped the prosecution and some of it helped the defense.  The jury continued to look bored and seemed to wonder why they were there. Continue reading

InlandPolitics: The Gutierrez prosecution – further analysis

  • Written bySenor Blogger
  • Posted June 8, 2010 at 1:33 pm

Yesterday’s pre-trial court hearing in the case against Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman and former Assessor’s employee Rex Gutierrez was interesting to say the least.

Between Friday and Monday’s proceedings you would have thought it was two different cases.

Friday’s hearing was to determine readiness for trial and whether or not developer Jeff Burum would take the stand.

On Friday Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse set the trial process in motion and denied a Motion to Quash a subpoena issued to Burum. Rouse also told prosecutors he didn’t see any evidence in the preliminary hearing transcripts or in a Motion to Allow Hearsay Testimony of Co-Conspirator Adam Aleman that met the threshold of proof as to any conspiracy between Burum, former Assessor Bill Postmus, and Gutierrez to effect Gutierrez’s hiring with the understanding Gutierrez would perform no work for the county, but instead do Burum’s bidding in Rancho Cucamonga business. Continue reading

InlandPolitics: Gutierrez case now back on radar screen

  • Written by Senor Blogger
  • Posted May 19, 2010 at 1:48 pm

Finally! One of the alleged corruption cases is on the radar screen. Really it is!

The case calendar of Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez now has a trial approaching.

Gutierrez is charged with grand theft and other crimes related to alleged time card fraud during his tenure at the Assessor’s office.

The case is scheduled for a Pre-Trial Hearing Conference in Superior Court next Tuesday, when various motions will be taken up by the court. The matter then proceeds to a Readiness Calendar confirmation on May 28th and Jury Trial on June 1st.

Gutierrez’ last day to commence trial is June 11th plus 10 days. If no trial commences by June 21st the case is dismissed.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

iePolitics: Corruption Defendant Got A Taste of Justice in San Bernardino County

I like “I told you so’s” even to my friends.  Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus got an “I told you so” from me yesterday.

Up until yesterday, Superior Court Judge Micheal Dest seemed to be doing the “right thing” during the hearings for the corruption defendants, at least in comparison to Judge Duke Rouse, who has been doing anything but the “right thing.”  But I spent two years working for the little man and tried to tell Bill and Jim that Dest would do what is best for Dest politically. Continue reading

iePolitics: Possible Bombshells This Week

There is quite a potential for bombshells dropping this week in a number of ongoing corruption-related issues.

On Monday, we have the arraignment of former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and former Chief of Staff Jim Erwin.  It is expected that the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office will turn over discovery for the case.   This may very well prove to be interesting.  First, the rumor that the District Attorney may ask for a gag order would be funny if it didn’t keep popping its ugly head up.  If true, it begs the question, “What is the District Attorney trying to hide?”  Well, that has birthed a few more rumors, the most prevalent of which is that among the discovery will be information showing that Second Supervisorial District Chief of Staff Matt Brown dropped a dime on his boss, Supervisor Paul Biane.  Rumors of Matt’s pending termination have been running rampant for a couple of weeks now. Continue reading

iePolitics: Pinocchio Is At It Again

Our county’s resident lying snitch is at it again.  Yes that’s right.  Pinocchio aka Confidential Informant No. 1 aka the yellow singing Canary, aka Adam Aleman is bragging once again about the testimony he gave to the San Bernardino County Grand Jury this past Monday and Tuesday.  Now, he has already pissed the Grand Jury off once by altering evidence  he sent to them.  That brought about just a few felonies.  Now, he seems to have forgotten he is not supposed to be telling us all what was said during the hearing.  But, this is the brash young Mr. Aleman and he can’t help himself. Continue reading

iePolitics: Ramos Off the Hook Again . . . For the Time Being

Former District Attorney investigator Chris Cardoza took a plea deal yesterday.  He pleaded guilty to one count of Computer Fraud and one count of Acts Constituting Theft.  He is due back for sentencing on May 27, 2010.  Since he is a licensed private investigator, we suspect both will be misdemeanors so that he can maintain his license. Continue reading

iePolitics: A Contest is Shaping Up

We have five defendants, Jim Erwin, Bill Postmus, Rex Gutierrez, Greg Eyler, and Dino DiFazio.  So, we have five criminal defense attorneys; five criminal defense attorneys who have reviewed the discovery provided by the District Attorney’s Office; five criminal defense attorneys who have compared notes; five criminal defense attorneys who have come to realize that Confidential Informant No. 1, our favorite yellow singing Canary extraordinaire, “persona au gratin,” one half of the team known as “Hansel and Gretel,” none other than the young Mr. Adam Aleman has a problem with the truth.  This is hardly new news to readers of this blog.  But there is a new twist.

Part of the discovery is, of course, the recorded interviews with Mr. Aleman.  But not all interviews are given to all attorneys but rather only those that affect each attorney’s client.  However, as I said, the defense attorneys are comparing notes.  And the defense attorneys’ private investigators are interviewing EVERYONE and comparing notes.   Everyone is comparing notes and it doesn’t  paint a pretty picture.  As stated in another article, the defense attorneys can now impeach Mr. Aleman with recordings in his own voice and words.  How much drama will that provide in front of a jury of twelve?  Any wonder why Senior Prosecutor Louis Cope attempted to keep evidence away from the defendants?  Or that there was a suggestion of a gag order? Continue reading

InlandPolitics: Judge delays Gutierrez trial at request of DA

  • Written by Administrator
  • Posted April 9, 2010 at 9:15 am

As expected, a Superior Court Judge agreed with San Bernardino County prosecutors to delay the trial of Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez this morning.

The trial, which was scheduled to commence Monday morning, addresses charges against Gutierrez alleging time card fraud stemming from Gutierrez’ tenure with the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office under Bill Postmus.

Continue reading

iePolitics: The Uffer Questions

Has anyone read pages 129-137 of the Mark Uffer Claim Against the County?  They can be found here:  Uffer-Document

Pages 129-137 consist of the questions Mark Uffer proposed the Grand Jury ask others, including Supervisor Paul Biane and Chief of Staff Mark Kirk.  Those questions are quite revealing.  The question is, “Are they legitimate?” Continue reading

iePolitics: Count Down to D-Day

Twenty-one days and counting until the circus of the century begins.  That’s right.  In only three weeks the Rex Gutierrez trial will begin and we will finally all be treated to the smug, if not truthful, testimony of Confidential Informant No. 1, our favorite yellow singing Canary, “persona au graten” Adam Aleman.

So I thought as we get closer to the big day, I would offer our star witness some advice to make it a little more comfortable for him, especially when he finds out how much research has been done into his testimony and his character. Continue reading

iePolitics: Liar, Liar and Yet One More Liar

If Rex Gutierrez actually makes it to trial as scheduled, and yes I doubt the case will go to trial, it will be a lesson in lack of ethics and integrity amongst county and former county employees and I’m not talking about Rex.

First up will be Confidential Informant No. 1, our illustrious “Persona Au Gratin,” singing Canary extraodinaire  Adam Aleman, who if he has the misfortune of making it to the witness stand will be able to impress jurors with his magnificant command of the English language, especially the big words he likes to throw around whether he knows what they mean or not.  The jury will be entertained at least. Continue reading

iePolitics: Supervisor Paul Biane a crook?

The story from InlandPolitics below is simply amazing.  We all heard the rumors of District Attorney Mike Ramos putting the screws to Supervisor Paul Biane.  We heard stories of him being in hiding and waiting for District Attorney investigators to show up at his door to place him in handcuffs.  His attendance at Board of Supervisors meetings waned.  He looked sullen when he did appear in public.  Some suspected it was his alcoholism but those in the know knew it he was scared to death.  He seemed paralyzed.

Why shouldn’t he be scared?  Of course he should be scared.  The stories of backroom payments from developers abound but those could be true or they could be urban legend.  What we know to be true are the unreported gifts such as the recent revelation about the trip with a developer on a private jet to a football game back East.  There are also other stories of trips to Mexico and Cuba.  And we know from the “Jim Erwin Model” that such lapses result in felony charges and arrests.  Paul has had a lot to be worried about. Continue reading

InlandPolitics Commentary: Credibility of former Assistant Assessor now in play

  • Written by Blogger
  • Posted January 31, 2010 at 11:31 am

Cases involving four criminal defendants which are now entering the evidentiary stage appear to now rest on the sole testimony of one key witness.

Former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman who has plead “no-contest” to one count of Vandalism, two counts of Destroying or Altering Documents, and one count of Presenting a false claim, is now the “go to” guy for District Attorney Michael Ramos, who is attempting to portray himself as a corruption fighter.

Some glaring issues arise here when taking a look at Aleman’s charges.

Continue reading

iePolitics: Jeff Burum . . . Jeff Burum . . . and more Jeff Burum

I sent a text to Jim Erwin this morning after reading the Sun story on former Assessor’s Office employee Rex Gutierrez’ preliminary hearing yesterday, basically saying that I hope when this whole scandal is over, Jeff Burum sues the heck out of the Sun, Adam Aleman, and Mike Ramos.  Tonight I read the Press Enterprise story and am adding that paper to the list.

I wrote in my “Black Helicopters” post on the last blog about my almost two-hour conversation with Adam Aleman a few months ago where he claimed that District Attorney investigators intimidated and tricked him into saying things about the entire cast of characters in the corruption scandal, including Jeff Burum.  He completely denied presenting any of the information to District Attorney investigators as hard, cold facts and stated that much of it was rumor he expected them to check out and not act on until verified. Continue reading