The Region : Contempt Count Against Sheriff Dropped

An Orange County judge dropped contempt charges against Sheriff Brad Gates, saying he was satisfied that Gates was doing “everything he can within his power” to jail suspects ordered arrested by the courts. Municipal Judge Gary Ryan had found Gates in contempt April 30 because of his refusal to accept as inmates at the main County Jail people arrested on court-ordered misdemeanor warrants. Gates said he had no choice but to turn away those inmates because of a federal court order placing a limit of 1,296 on the Santa Ana jail’s population. Ryan said he was satisfied by Gates’ recent decision to lower his standards for admission to a branch jail, which makes room for some misdemeanor arrestees at the main jail.