SENTENCING OF FORMER SUPERVISOR/ASSESSOR POSTMUS DELAYED

Sentencing for former San Bernardino County Assessor and Supervisor Bill Postmus was postponed yesterday due to a delay in a corruption case he is expected to testify in. Postmus pleaded guilty last year to taking part in a conspiracy involving bribery and extortion in exchange for his vote for the county’s $102 million legal settlement with developer Colonies Partners. As part of his plea deal he is a key witness in criminal grand jury proceedings that resulted in bribery and conspiracy-related charges against Jeff Burum, co-managing partner of Colonies, former Supervisor Paul Biane, Jim Erwin, former assistant assessor and Chief of Staff for Supervisor Neil Derry, and Mark Kirk, former chief of staff to Supervisor Gary Ovitt. Burum, Biane, Erwin and Kirk have pleaded not guilty. Postmus and Adam Aleman, a former assistant assessor also cooperating with prosecutors, are not expected to be sentenced until after the case is resolved. Postmus’ sentencing was continued to November 16. Aleman also had his sentencing delayed on Monday and will return to court December 7.