Citron Sentence: Was Justice Done?

What greater statement can there be of the condition of our society than the sentence of one year in County Jail and a $100,000 fine of former Treasurer-Tax Collector Robert L. Citron for the crime of gambling away $1.64 billion of taxpayer funds?

At the same time, he draws an $86,000 retirement from the county. Meanwhile, from a Times editorial to Supervisor William G. Steiner, there are statements about how poor old Bob Citron has paid a heavy price for his indiscretions with taxpayer funds.

This disregards the laying off of 500 county employees and heavy cuts in health and social services and other fallout. As a society, we have a very distorted sense of justice when we are able to justify a public official gambling away $1.64 billion all for the aggrandizement of his ego.

STEPHEN B. WHEELER

Newport Beach

* I am appalled that Citron has been designated the scapegoat for the actions of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The board members have been allowed to ignore any responsibility for their actions. They approved the loans that made the bankruptcy possible.

They encouraged Citron to continue making money for the county with get-rich schemes. Aren’t the supervisors at least guilty of stupidity? Should they be allowed to keep their generous pensions and retirement benefits?

GENE MORRIS

Costa Mesa

* I don’t excuse Citron for what he did. However, I question the importance of a year in jail. Will that in some way affect the damage he has caused? If the $100,000 fine does not punish him sufficiently, what will?

DON LEEPER

Buena Park