Judge Rules Isles Gave Up Mayor’s Job by Guilty Plea : Law: He finds that convictions on conflict charges were ‘violations of official duties’ as Brea official.

Ending nearly two weeks of confusion, a Municipal Court judge ruled Wednesday that Ronald E. Isles gave up his seat as mayor of Brea when he pleaded guilty to charges of conflict of interest.

Municipal Judge Stephen J. Sundvold said the law required that Isles immediately step down from his post because his convictions were “violations of (his) official duties.”

The judge then sent official notice of his findings to the Brea City Council.

Brea’s assistant city attorney said the judge’s notice was the guidance the city was looking for in determining whether Isles was going to be forced to leave office before his term expired on Dec. 1.

“He is no longer on the council,” Brea Assistant City Atty. Andrew Arczynski said of Isles late Wednesday.

Isles, a two-term city official, could not be reached for comment.

Brea Mayor Pro Tem Burnie Dunlap said that council members were aware of the judge’s notice, but had not yet been told by the city attorney that the matter was resolved. He declined to comment further about Isles’ situation other than to say “it’s been on everyone’s mind.”

Since Oct. 9, when Isles pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of conflict of interest and failure to fully report his financial holdings in accordance with state law, city officials have maintained that it was up to the judge to declare that Isles had to leave office.

Despite his notice to city officials, the judge said he believed that the city had the authority all along to declare Isles’ seat vacant after the guilty plea.

“Hopefully this puts the matter to rest,” Sundvold said in an interview after the brief hearing with attorneys on the Isles case. “I think the (mayor’s) seat was vacated by operation of law as a result of the conviction.” State law requires that elected officials leave office if they are found guilty of a crime involving their official duties.

Arczynski said the city has 30 days to appoint a new mayor or call for a special election to fill the post. But the matter most likely will be moot, he said, after the Nov. 3 election when a new mayor is elected.

The uncertainty over Isles’ situation began shortly after his plea was entered. Isles, 54, initially entered into the plea with the understanding that he would be able to serve out his term. But shortly afterward, the prosecutor discovered a government statute that appeared to require that Isles leave office immediately. Isles then had his attorney go back into court last week to ask that the judge suspend the conviction until after his mayoral term expired Dec. 1. The judge denied the request.

After the judge refused to suspend the conviction, Isles’ attorney and the prosecutor left the courtroom with a key question unresolved: Who, if anyone, was going to remove Isles from office?

All the parties agreed Wednesday that the judge’s notice to the city now answers that question.

“As far as I’m concerned the case is closed,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. James Mulgrew.

Under the agreement, Isles pleaded guilty to three counts of voting or taking action on matters that benefited entities in which he had a financial interest, and four counts of failing to report loans on state-required economic-interest disclosure forms. Fourteen other counts were dropped. All of the actions occurred between 1989 and 1991 while he was on the council.

As a result of his guilty pleas, Isles was placed on three years’ probation and ordered to pay fines and assessments totaling $13,500. The agreement also prohibits him from being a candidate for elective office or acting as a lobbyist for four years.

Even after he pleaded guilty, Isles contended that he did nothing wrong. He said the violations were careless and unintentional and that he did not financially benefit as a result of his errors.

Dunlap supported Isles on Wednesday, saying: “I believe that Ron’s statements were true. . . . I saw no evidence that he was doing anything for personal benefit at all.”