Postmus mum on meth addiction claims
Sources report two stints in rehab for former county supervisor; Postmus may be gearing up for $87,000 disability retirement

August 7, 2008 - 4:19PM
RYAN ORR

SAN BERNARDINO -- County Assessor Bill Postmus, who once was the most powerful politician in San Bernardino County, has done two stints in rehabilitation facilities, most recently for an addiction to methamphetamine, sources close to Postmus told the Daily Press.

In March 2007 Postmus was admitted to the Pine Ridge Treatment Center in Lucerne Valley, according to multiple sources who have been close to Postmus for more than 15 years total.

An unshaven and erratic Postmus showed up high to a political fundraiser for a county official on March, 15, 2007, said one source who was at the event. After a short speech, Postmus left.

"That was the beginning of the end," said one source close to Postmus. "That's when things came to a head."

That night a close friend of Postmus drove him to Pine Ridge Treatment Center in Lucerne Valley, confirmed multiple knowledgeable sources. The sources wished to remain anonymous since an investigation into the Assessor's office and Postmus' actions is still ongoing.

Postmus, 37, who is in the middle of a 10-week medical leave, has been under intense scrutiny since a July grand jury report slammed Postmus' management of the Assessor's office. Then, as part of an ongoing investigation by the district attorney's office, Postmus' second in command, Adam Aleman, was arrested and charged with six felonies relating to falsifying documents.

When asked if drug use is part of the district attorney's investigation, Public Integrity Unit Prosecutor John Goritz said, "We do not comment on ongoing investigations."

Postmus has not returned more than 15 calls for comment over the past 11 days. He recently returned from a trip to Idaho where his parents live.

"He said he just wants to see how things play out," said Ted Lehrer, spokesman for the assessor's office. Lehrer had no official comment on Postmus' alleged drug use.

Sources also confirm that Postmus may be gearing up for a disability retirement that could leave him with an paycheck of more than $87,000 a year for life.

In October 2006, when the Sawtooth wildfire burned through Yucca Valley, Postmus was actually in a rehabilitation facility in Washington state, according to multiple sources who spoke with the Daily Press. At the time, then-1st District Supervisor Postmus told the media he was in Wisconsin burying his grandmother's ashes. According to the Social Security Death Index, Postmus' grandmother, Evelyn M. Stroozas, passed away in Buena Park on Jan. 1, 2006. Postmus' original unredacted calendar shows that he attended her funeral at Bethel Lutheran Church in Buena Park on Jan. 5 -- 10 months before he purportedly went to Wisconsin.

The calendar shows that Postmus attended a Kings hockey game the same night with sheriff's union president Jim Erwin and Supervisor Paul Biane. Seven days later on Jan. 13, Postmus took a trip to Aspen, the uncensored calendar shows.

Postmus' alleged problems with addiction began when he started taking painkillers to deal with scoliosis, said another source.
"You know how drugs are, things escalate," the source said.

When his alleged addiction escalated, those close to Postmus took other measures including interventions with his immediate family.
In a surprise move last month, Postmus announced that he was taking a 10-week medical leave of absence for undisclosed reasons. Sources say it's a way for Postmus, 37, to petition for a work-related disability retirement that could leave him collecting more than $87,000 a year for the rest of his life.

Days before he announced his leave July 23, Postmus turned in his county car, allowing him to boost his current benefits package by a $1,000 a month.

A disability retirement would have to be approved by the San Bernardino County Public Employees Retirement Association, which spokesman Danielle Jaramillo said could take up to six months.

Citing confidentiality, Jaramillo could not comment on whether Postmus has began the process of seeking a disability retirement.
Jaramillo did confirm that Postmus was a member of the Association's board, but only for a short time.

"I've known Bill for a number of years, and it's tough to see him in this position," said one source. "It's sad to see that addiction's got the best of him."