Tom's crowd

As you know, a few years ago, the IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE Foundation honored Orange County Sheriff MIKE CARONA as it’s “Hometown Hero.” How did that happen? Well, at the time, Carona was a Republican star, and Tom Fuentes, one of our trustees, was the chair of the OC GOP. Maybe that's it. Dunno.

So, anyway, Carona gets this hero prize. But there's a turd in the punchbowl, cuz Carona, as it turns out, is a seriously out-of-control lecher, is generally sleazy, and is a member of the ruthless and corrupt gang that seems to own this county. Some hero.

The gang? Some people call ‘em the Republican Mafia. (See our recent "The man who sued his own mother".)

For a while, Carona’s best pal was similarly unsavory Assistant Sheriff GEORGE JARAMILLO, Carona’s likely successor. But, somehow, Jaramillo got on somebody’s bad side, and so he was charged with bribery and corruption by the OC DA, TONY RACKAUCKAS, another member of our Republican central mob.

Naturally, Jaramillo doesn’t want to be prosecuted by Rackauckas, cuz Rackauckas is part of Carona’s gang, and he’s advised by the same rat bastard who advises Carona, namely, Friend-of-Fuentes MICHAEL SCHROEDER.

Schroeder seems to be the Republican Mafia’s consigliere—you, know, like Robert Duvall's “Tom Hagen” in The Godfather. He may be more than that. Brando? Dianne Keaton? Talia Shire?

Today’s papers explain that Jaramillo’s request to move his case out of the OC DA’s office was denied. (DA still on Jaramillo case.) According to the Reg,

Jaramillo said he was a friend of Rackauckas' before he was fired by Carona in 2004, and that Rackauckas' office filed charges against him after being influenced by Carona and Republican activist Michael Schroeder. Schroeder is an adviser to both Carona and Rackauckas.

MEANWHILE, the state has been investigating our boy Carona for sexual harassment. But, yesterday, in the blog Total Buzz, Peggy Lowe reported that one of Carona’s accusers now refuses to cooperate with the state:

The state AG's office had to drop its probe into the claims made by Erica Hill, who had said Carona made inappropriate sexual advances, because she refused to cooperate. I left her a message yesterday and she got back to me last night. I picked up her message today...Hill, as those of you following the sheriff saga well know, is the sister-in-law of George Jaramillo.

Here's what she told me about why she wouldn't talk to investigators:

"Look what happened to George Jaramillo when he became a threat. Look what happened to BILL HUNT when he became a threat. I'm just a little, single mother of three."

See Hill speaks on sheriff investigation

Lovely, isn’t it?

You're supposed to obey, lady

DO YOU REMEMBER that 85-year-old woman and leader of a Christian sect in Costa Mesa who was arrested during a rhubarb over the presence of county health inspectors at the group’s little "tea room"? It was all about health permits, the county’s health standards, and, well, whether the county may enforce its notions of how people should run businesses.

Marie Kolasinski was sentenced to 10 days in jail and three years probation. According to the Times (“O.C. sect leader gets 10-day sentence”), at a court hearing,

Piecemakers Judy Haeger, 59, and Doug Follette, 52, were [also] sentenced to three years' probation and 30 days of community service.

…"No man is above the law, and no man is below it," the judge said, quoting Theodore Roosevelt.

When the judge asked the three if they understood their sentences, [leader Marie] Kolasinski, wearing a black beret, said she didn't know why she was being punished.

…[Judge] MacEachern said Kolasinski got jail time because she was the "instigator" and had a "long history of disobedience."

Some Piecemakers burst into tears as deputies took Kolasinski into custody.

…The Piecemakers, made up mostly of 26 elderly women who live communally, run a homey store on Adams Avenue that features handmade quilts, craft supplies and a small tearoom that serves sandwiches, soups and sweets.

Since 1991, the group has barred health inspectors from its facility, citing freedom of religion.

…"These laws are stupid laws," said Diane Sieker. "The government bullies us, terrorizes us. They come in with their guns and attitude and give us people who are trying to make a living a hard time."

…According to probation reports, the three refused to acknowledge wrongdoing and felt they were victims of government harassment, unjust laws and discrimination.

…Kolasinski said she had "absolutely no remorse" and "regrets nothing."

According to the OC Register (“Piecemakers leader gets jail”), the judge told Kolasinski, “Mrs. Kolasinski, you're going to jail right now…How much time that you get is up to you."

I suppose this means that she got the jail time that she did because she failed to be penitent. I mean, you’re supposed to “obey.” And when you don’t, you’re supposed to say sorry.

That’s the way it works, lady. Just suck it up.

P.S. (11:00 a.m.):

Just came across the OC Register's Steven Greenhut's angry reaction to the Kolasinski judgment (yesterday):

...Yes, jailing an 85 year-old woman for illegally selling soup and pies to non-complaining customers really warranted the time and effort of the justice system...So congratulations to the OC DA for imprisoning a peaceful, senior citizen, who makes her living running a crafts store and baking apple pies and proving that government is the boss in America of 2007....