S.B. County Supervisors Weigh Defender’s Fate

The San Bernardino County public defender remained on paid leave Tuesday for hiring a lawyer with a criminal background.

The Board of Supervisors is weighing whether to fire John E. Roth for hiring an attorney convicted last year of paying inmates to solicit business for him inside county jails.

County leaders say they hope their recent decision to place Roth on administrative leave -- as they say they will with other public officials who damage the county’s image -- will assure the public that corrupt practices of the past are over.

“The message is: We are not going to tolerate these kinds of things,” said County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer. “We want this county to have a squeaky-clean image.”

In the 1990s, several high-ranking San Bernardino County officials pleaded guilty to participating in bribery and kickback schemes. Two former chief administrative officers and a county supervisor pleaded guilty to charges stemming from one scheme.

Roth is in trouble with the board for hiring Geoffrey Newman, a criminal defense attorney. Newman pleaded guilty last year to misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, solicitation of a crime and soliciting business inappropriately. He served four months in jail and paid a $75,000 fine.

After supervisors learned of the hiring, they directed Roth to fire Newman, which was done Jan. 27, four days into Newman’s job.

Newman said Tuesday that he was open about his criminal conviction and was disappointed that supervisors might discipline Roth for giving him a chance to rebuild his legal career.

“It’s absurd,” he said.

The Roth scandal comes only a week after Treasurer-Tax Collector Dick Larsen rescinded a job offer to a local union leader.

In January, Larsen offered to hire Jim Erwin, head of San Bernardino County’s Safety Employees Benefit Assn., as the county’s chief investment officer, managing nearly $3 billion.

But the announcement generated criticism from county employees and others because Erwin allegedly had a relationship with Elizabeth Sanchez, the county’s human resources chief who negotiated with Erwin for a union contract.

In a statement issued last week, Larsen said he rescinded the job offer because hiring Erwin “raised issues.”

“I would never set out to do anything that would compromise the public’s faith in my office or county government as a whole,” Larsen said.

The state attorney general’s office confirmed Tuesday that it was investigating their alleged relationship and whether it posed a conflict of interest.

San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert said the county also hired a private law firm to investigate the allegations and determine if the county was harmed by the alleged relationship. The results of that investigation will soon be turned over to the Board of Supervisors.

Erwin has declined to comment.

Sanchez, a 17-year county employee, resigned in December at Uffer’s request.

Supervisor Dennis Hansberger said she created an intolerable conflict of interest.

“You do not have a personal relationship with the people on the other side of the negotiating table,” he said.

Sanchez could not be reached for comment.