Making Kings

Have you followed the George Jaramillo case? It tells you a lot about Orange County and the Machine.

Until a few years ago, Jaramillo was corrupt OC Sheriff Mike Carona’s right-hand man. (Recall that, a few years ago, Carona received the IVC Foundation’s “Hometown Hero” designation.) Everyone expected Jaramillo to succeed Carona as Sheriff.

Then, in 2004, things changed. As this morning’s OC Register explains (Jaramillo trial):

Jaramillo…is accused of profiting from a relationship with Newport Beach businessman Charles Gabbard, who has also come under fire for raising campaign money for Carona. Gabbard's company, CHG Technologies, was marketing an anti-pursuit device and hired Jaramillo as a consultant. Jaramillo is also charged with improperly using the Sheriff's Department helicopter for a personal trip taken by him and his wife, Lisa.

This morning’s Times (Ex-O.C. sheriff's official) explains that

George Jaramillo still faces … charges related to his work as a paid consultant for CHG Safety Technologies Inc., including charges of taking a bribe and obstructing justice…He is … accused of lying twice to a grand jury, using a department helicopter for personal travel, and ordering deputies to develop his film, research convalescent homes for his mother and attend a relative's graduation ceremony.

Michael Shroeder’s name comes up a lot in this case, which is now set to go to trial in January:

At the pre-trial hearing, the talk centered mostly on Jaramillo's recently filed motion to recuse the Orange County District Attorney's Office from the case because of the possibility he would get an unfair trial.

The motion also alleges Carona and his lawyer, Michael Schroeder, influenced Rackauckas to file charges, and that prosecutors had some evidence in the case given to them illegally by Schroeder.

Jaramillo's motion said he was viewed as a political threat to Carona and Rackauckas, who he termed the "frontmen for the notorious Orange County kingmaker, Michael Schroeder."

[Jaramillo’s lawyer Robert] Corrado said he is ready to go to trial and call on Schroeder, who advises both Carona and Rackauckas, and their wives, to testify. Schroeder's wife, Susan, works for the district attorney. Rackauckas' former wife helped Lisa Jaramillo raise money for several candidates.

"Let's get them on the witness stand before God and everybody and the news and see what they have to say," Corrado said after the hearing.

Yes, let’s do get them on the witness stand. Let’s let everyone see just how things work in this ridiculous county.

Back in 2000, when then-OC GOP chief Tom Fuentes was selected to replace Steven Frogue, who had resigned from the SOCCCD Board of Trustees just five months prior to election, Fuentes called for a meeting with a group I was then working with. Don Rickner and I showed up at the meeting. At Fuentes’ side was Michael Shroeder. Schroder and Fuentes seemed joined at the hip. The purpose of the meeting was never made clear.

A year or so earlier, Schroeder had sent me a very complimentary note, thanking me for my efforts in opposition to Frogue. At the time, Schroeder was the chief of the state GOP, and he had gotten the state party to join our (ultimately unsuccessful) efforts to recall Trustee Frogue. I had no idea who Schroeder was and why he would bother to send a note.

At about that time, current SOCCCD Chancellor (and then-IVC President) Raghu P. Mathur was meeting with Fuentes and Schroeder.

I think Schroeder and Fuentes were making Kings, as usual.

Let's hope that the Jaramillo trial goes forward and that a little light can be shed on the Machine and how it works, and how it occasionally breaks down.