O.C. lease to get a state review
The state attorney general’s office has been asked to review a contract between the Orange County Fairgrounds and operators of a paintball park who allegedly paid a $25,000 kickback for Sheriff Michael S. Carona’s help in finding a site.
Becky Bailey-Findley, chief executive of the county fair, said Tuesday that she made the request after The Times reported last week that the sheriff’s wife -- a member of the board that oversees the fairgrounds -- voted with the majority to approve a lease agreement with the partners in Giant Paintball Park.
Because the county fair board is run by the state, the attorney general’s office serves as its legal counsel.
Bailey-Findley said she was sending copies of The Times’ article and the Giant Paintball file to the attorney general’s office as a precaution, and to determine “if we need to do anything with this contract.”
“When the story broke on Friday, we didn’t have any indication from our records that there was anything out of order,” she said.
Carona, his wife and his former mistress have been indicted in a federal corruption case that alleges the sheriff sold access to his office in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars, tickets to sporting events and various gifts.
All three have pleaded not guilty and are free on bail
Deborah Carona, speaking through her attorney, denied any wrongdoing in the paintball contract.
Richard M. Steingard, an attorney for the Giant Paintball partners, said his clients welcomed the state probe, saying it “will reveal that the contract was awarded solely on merit.”
Deborah Carona was named to the fair board in 2001, an appointment that federal prosecutors allege was the result of her husband’s influence.
She was president of the fair board earlier this year when she and other members approved a contract with Dennis Bukowski and Giovanni D’Egidio, allowing them to stage a paintball park at the fairgrounds from October to April.
Bukowski and D’Egidio are partners in Hollywood Sports Park and separately own several other companies.
Campaign records show they donated $1,620 to Carona’s campaign before they allegedly met with the sheriff and -- according to federal prosecutors -- agreed to pay $25,000 for his influence in finding a site for a park.
The businessmen went to the fairgrounds in January, meeting at the administration building with Mark Entner, who manages the fair’s rental agreements with event producers.
Within a few days, the two entrepreneurs followed up with a letter requesting a two-year lease.
Normally, those seeking rental agreements are required to fill out an application, according to fair board officials.
D’Egidio and Bukowski did not, Entner said. The staff spent months researching the firm but no report was produced, Entner said.
The firm’s only written reference came from the assistant city manager of Bellflower, where the partners run a 30-acre park.
Gareth Lacy, a spokesman for the attorney general, confirmed that his office was reviewing the contract to determine “the appropriate course of action.”
“There’s some serious allegations that have been leveled in the indictment,” he said. “They merit careful and thorough analysis.”
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hgreza@latimes.com
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