SB Sun: Former assistant assessor appears in court
By SB Pietas | 09/30/08 | 11:45 AM EDT | 0 Comments
Finally, the date has arrived. Adam Aleman has appeared in court for the second time in response to claims that he altered subpoenaed documents and vandalized public property.
What I find interesting is the great length of time between each hearing. It was a full month between Aleman's arrest and arraignment, and it has now been two months since then. Why the delay?
One has to wonder if there are political considerations. It has been speculated by other members of the local blogosphere that Aleman will be pled out to greatly reduced charges--even though the public (well, at least the segment of the population that follows Assessor's Office politics) wants blood.
As critical of Postmus and Aleman as I have been, at some point we must realize that they have gotten what they deserved. Never is a long time, but it seems highly unlikely that Postmus could ever be elected to public office at any point in the future. It also seems unlikely that Adam Aleman could continue his political career, in any way. Aleman has lost practically everything. He no longer has the ability to take advantage of a government office in an inappropriate way, and will likely never regain that power. Is it really necessary to demand he be sentenced to 18 years in state prison . . . Out of spite?
Regardless,
the prosecutors have now asked to continue proceedings until November,
which would likely be (conveniently) after the November 4 general
election.
It is also possible that the
prosecutors are, in fact, awaiting additional evidence in the case.
Since the six charges that have been presented seem fairly "open and
shut," it only stands to reason that if they are actually awaiting more
discovery, additional charges may be filed.
Still, of the various possibilities, I believe that the one centering on political considerations is most likely.
Here is coverage from the Sun's IE Courts blog on today's hearing:
Prosecutors seek more discovery in former assistant assessor's caseWrite SBPietas at sbpietas@yahoo.com.
By Mike Cruz on September 30, 2008 10:15 AM
Former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman appeared briefly in Superior Court Tuesday for a status hearing on his case stemming from what authorities say were his attempts to mislead a grand jury investigation.
The 25-year-old Aleman stood beside his lawyer Grover Porter as prosecutors sought to continue proceedings to November in San Bernardino Superior Court. Prosecutors are still awaiting more discovery, or evidence in the case, Judge John Martin told the court.
Accompanied to court by fiancee Kelly Kuntz, Aleman is scheduled to return to court Nov. 19.
Aleman and his former boss, Assessor Bill Postmus, have been engulfed in a scandal since a grand jury report was released June 30. Law enforcement officials believed Aleman attempted to mislead the grand jury, according to court records unsealed the next day.
Postmus and the Assessor's Office are the focus of an investigation into possible political corruption.
Aleman was charged with six felony counts involving the destruction of evidence, altering of documents sought by the grand jury and vandalism. If convicted on all charges, Aleman faces a maximum of 18 years in state prison.
According to a search-warrant affidavit, an executive secretary told investigators that Aleman approached her on Jan. 11 and said changes were needed for meeting minutes.
Aleman said he told the secretary that "he found some blatant errors and he wanted to be 100 percent accurate for the grand jury," according to the warrant affidavit.
Authorities also reported that Aleman destroyed his boss's laptop by opening it up and removing the hard drive in 2006.
TAGS: Adam Aleman, Bill Postmus, San Bernardino County Assessor, San Bernardino County District Attorney
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