Contempt hearing continued for Rancho councilman Gutierrez

SAN BERNARDINO -- Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez appeared in court this morning to face allegations that he violated a court order by speaking to a news reporter about his grand jury testimony in April.

The San Bernardino County grand jury is seeking a contempt-of-court judgement against Gutierrez, who testified April 7 as part of a inquiry into a potential land deal in Rancho Cucamonga.

Today's hearing was continued to June 24 because the judge presiding over the case, Douglas M. Elwell, was attending previously scheduled meetings and was unavailable.

Gutierrez signed an admonishment April 7 ordering him to remain silent about his testimony, but in an April 17 article in this newspaper he was quoted making statements about his testimony.

The grand jury's contempt declaration, signed by grand jury foreman Burrel Woodring, was filed on May 12.

Gutierrez could be fined up to $1,500 and jailed for up to five days if a judge finds him in contempt of court, said Charlie Umeda, grand jury legal advisor.

Gutierrez's attorney, James Reiss, said in an interview today that Gutierrez will contest the contempt action.

Reiss said that during the newspaper interview, Gutierrez was confirming information the reporter already knew.

The grand jury questioned Gutierrez as part of its inquiry into the potential sale of 1,200 acres of flood-control land in Rancho Cucamonga.

The grand jury is also investigating whether a company associated with developer Jeff Burum is getting preferential treatment in the potential land deal.