Appellate Court Reverses Narcotics Convictions of 2 Men in Orange County

The 1982 drug convictions of two men whom prosecutors called “lackeys” for an Orange County narcotics kingpin were reversed by a state appellate court in Santa Ana in a ruling released Tuesday.

George Vandenbrink, formerly of Laguna Beach, was found guilty in 1982 of eight counts of conspiracy, selling cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale.

At the same time, Gerald Lee Sims, formerly of Meridian, Ida., was convicted on charges of possessing cocaine for sale and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

But justices of the 4th District Court of Appeal wrote that “both men are entitled to reversal because the trial court failed to advise them of their privilege against self-incrimination, and they did not waive that right. . . .”

According to the appellate court opinion, Vandenbrink and Sims were identified in an elaborate undercover narcotics investigation originally directed at alleged narcotics kingpin John Charles Gale, who died in June, 1982, in a car crash.

While Gale and others were part of the original case, only Vandenbrink and Sims were convicted. Charges against several of the original defendants were dismissed, and another was acquitted after a court trial.

Vandenbrink and Sims agreed to let a judge decide their cases using transcripts of previous hearings. According to the opinion, “Vandenbrink contends his subsequent conviction must be reversed because he was not advised of, and did not waive, his right against self-incrimination. We agree.”

The justices also said Sims was entitled to a reversal for the same reason.