Judge Mark E. Windham acknowledged both sides in the case face credibility issues, but said it should be up to a jury to decide whether four felonies were committed in the summer of 2010.
Edward Joseph Ortega
Windham ordered Edward Joseph Ortega, 41, of Ridgecrest to stand trial for allegedly committing perjury and false personation when he filled out tax and business license documents, identifying himself as a director of OHI Services, a Big Bear-based private investigation firm. After a three-day preliminary hearing, Windham set Ortega's arraignment for June 1 in Airport court. 

Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Chris Curtis called Ortega's alleged crimes part of a "sophisticated scheme." Ortega, he said, tricked city officials into believing he was a director of OHI Services. The company was founded by Ortega's longtime friend, Keith Raymond, who testified that Ortega never held a high position. Ortega had worked for Raymond many times in the past 15 years but was never a licensed private investigator, according to court testimony. 

However, Ortega used Raymond's Social Security number, tax identification number and private investigator's license number on city documents without Raymond's permission. Ortega also obtained a fictitious business license for OHI Services in Inyo County, though the business was already established, Curtis said. Windham said he believed Raymond was surprised to learn that Ortega had used his information, but called Raymond "an extremely evasive witness." 

Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender Susan Charney attempted to call defense witnesses - which is unusual for a preliminary hearing - but was denied by Windham. Charney suggested that Ortega was a victim of Raymond and police officials.  "This is a situation where (Ortega) was working with Mr. Raymond, but Mr. Raymond has since disavowed him," Charney said. Raymond "was dishonest about when my client stopped working for him. He threw (Ortega) under the bus because he doesn't want the ramifications that would come with investigating the Hawthorne Police Department." 

Ortega was working with Jesse Escochea, a freelance cameraman, to investigate alleged corruption in Hawthorne stemming from rumors that employees snuck into City Hall and destroyed documents the night former City Manager Jag Pathirana was ousted by a new City Council majority in April 2010. "My role was uncovering corruption in the city of Hawthorne," Escochea told the court. "As the Washington Post did during the Watergate investigation." Though Escochea was not hired by Hawthorne officials, he appeared to be working with Ortega, who was hired by former City Manager Jim Mitsch in April 2010 - on the same day Mitsch was appointed to the position and the former city manager was ousted amid corruption rumors. 

Mitsch testified that Councilman Alex Vargas directed him to hire Ortega to look for electronic bugs and interview employees about unauthorized document shredding. "There seemed to be a lot of turmoil," Mitsch testified. "There was a lot of disruption at that time. Mr. Ortega introduced himself, and there were other people within the city that mentioned he would be good as an investigator."

Windham called Mitsch's testimony "disappointing," and said he would "expect more from a public servant."
The two-month investigation spurred discontent at City Hall, prompting the resignation of several longtime employees, including former Police Chief Michael Heffner. Despite all the rumors, no corruption was uncovered. 

Charney told the court that several employees had "unauthorized access" to City Hall on April 15, 2010, and may have destroyed documents. However, when she asked Hawthorne Finance Manager Lani Emmich - one of the stated suspects - why she went back to her office after work that day, Emmich said it was to retrieve personal belongings. "I wanted my two wristbands for carpal tunnel syndrome," said Emmich, who added that she did not know she was under suspicion. 

In addition to rumored document shredding, Charney also suggested that the investigation into Ortega was orchestrated by Hawthorne police officials and their friends in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. "One of the people investigated by my client is married to a deputy district attorney," Charney said. Additionally, he said, the lead investigator in the case may have been friends with a Hawthorne police officer who Charney claimed wanted revenge on city officials. Curtis said Charney's arguments were an attempt "to throw red herrings and make it more sensationalistic." 

Rather, the case against Ortega is clear, the prosecutor suggested.  "Mr. Ortega went to the Inyo County clerk, set up a fictitious business license, used letterhead Mr. Raymond never used, in order to receive the Hawthorne contract," Curtis said. "He was in City Hall, investigating people, looking for bugs, which he had no right to do."

By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer, Daily Breeze
Posted:   05/18/2012 06:05:40 PM PDT
Updated:   05/18/2012 06:59:48 PM PDT