Former SB Democratic Central Committee spokesman facing child porn charge
Sam Clauder, who served as spokesman and finance chair for the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee and as a representative for Congressman Joe Baca, has been charged with felony possession of child pornography.
Clauder, 57, of San Bernardino, pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment March 11 in San Bernardino Superior Court. He posted bond on $25,000 bail and will next appear in court on April 20 for a pretrial hearing. He faces a maximum of three years in prison if convicted, Deputy District Attorney Angela Sonico said.
Clauder was charged with the alleged crime on Feb. 24, which occurred on or about April 16, 2008, according to court records.
Clauder vehemently denies the allegations, and believes he is being framed by his estranged wife, Lana Clauder. He said he and his wife have been ensnared in bitter divorce proceedings since last May.
"This has all got to do with an ugly divorce case, and that's the bottom line," Clauder said.
His attorney, Rajan Maline, said polygraph examinations given to both Lana Clauder and her son by sheriff's detectives were inconclusive. He said his client had moved out of the house months before authorities were notified about the pornography.
"They claim to have found these images on a computer, and this is in the middle of a very heated divorce," Maline said. "The funny thing is is Mr. Clauder wasn't even living in the house at the time the images were found. It's very suspect."
Lana Clauder's attorney, Randall Billington, said his client has a restraining order out against her husband and is concerned for her safety and has no reason to be making things up. He said she is a psychologist for the Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside County and has a solid reputation.
"Ms. Clauder has a long career as a school psychologist. She's well respected in her field," Billington said.
He said his client has no animosity toward her husband.
"She wishes him the best and hopes he goes on to live a successful life," Billington said.
Clauder said he was fired Monday as Congressman Joe Baca's Congressional representative after Baca's reps started getting phone calls from the media about Clauder's legal woes.
Last month, Clauder resigned as spokesman and finance chair for the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee, said Carol Robb, chairwoman of the organization.
Clauder, however, still remains a committee member, Robb said.
She is standing by Clauder.
"As the wife of a former prosecutor, I have faith in the system, and I also know from being a teacher's advocate and the president of a local teacher's union that anyone can be accused of just about anything," Robb said.
She's confident the allgations against Clauder have no merit.
"I have no reason to believe than they are anything other than bogus," Robb said.
Clauder has a history of run-ins with the law.
He pleaded guilty in December to a charge of disturbing the peace and was ordered by the court to enroll in a 52-week batterers treatment program no later than March 1.
Clauder said that conviction occurred as a result of a spat he had with a sheriff's bailiff during a court divorce proceeding.
On April 16, 2008, Clauder was arrested on suspicion of hitting his wife and was subsequently jailed. The charges were later dismissed, and Clauder said he filed for divorce about 10 days later.
In 1986, Clauder said he was convicted in Orange County of misdemeanor corporal punishment of a child. The charge stemmed from him spanking his stepson and leaving scars on his buttocks. He said the judge sentenced him to one year of informal probation and 20 hours of communty service at a child abuse center.
Despite that history, Clauder's attorney believes the evidence against his client has all the ingredients of a dismissal.
"I beieve that Mr. Caluder will be cleared after all is said is done," Maline said. "This kind of allegation is going to be hard to clear his name, but clear his name we will."
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