Search Warrant for Roth’s Bank Records Is Possible

In yet another round of legal maneuvers, prosecutors appeared ready Thursday to seek a search warrant for County Supervisor Don R. Roth’s bank records, while another member of the supervisor’s staff received immunity to testify before the grand jury investigating him.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Guy N. Ormes said Thursday that Roth refused to hand over his bank records and that the district attorney was “looking at other means” of getting them. He said a search warrant was an option.

Roth’s attorney, Dana Reed, said investigators are seeking access to three checking accounts and two credit-card accounts, as part of an ongoing probe into whether Roth exchanged gifts for political favors. A judge would have to grant the search warrant.

Last month, Reed faxed a memorandum to reporters saying that Roth intended to cooperate fully with investigators and planned to give them access to the supervisor’s financial records. But Roth never signed a release.

Reed said Thursday that the district attorney “wanted more than we were willing to give them.”

Roth’s criminal attorney, Paul S. Meyer of Costa Mesa, complained that the district attorney’s request for the bank records was “too broad” and without “probable cause” that a crime had been committed.

Since May, the district attorney has been investigating whether Roth exchanged political favors for gifts.

On Thursday, Christine Smith, Roth’s appointment secretary, was granted immunity by Superior Court Judge John J. Ryan, who handles grand jury matters, and Smith appeared before the grand jury later that afternoon. Smith was the third Roth staff member to go before the grand jury.