Urteaga's felony record uncovered

Amanda Baumfeld hits a homerun in her story about Montebello Councilman Robert Urteaga's criminal record. Baumfeld said that she had the information several weeks ago. Earlier this week, http://www.stopathens.com/ posted info about Urteaga's record.

Urteaga was accused in 1999 of five counts of check forgery and one count grand theft.

In a July 1999 plea agreement between Urteaga and prosecutors, the forgery counts were dropped by the district attorney, according to court documents.

Urteaga, 33, is the youngest Montebello councilman to be elected in the city's history.

As a side note, any member of the public can find out whether anyone has a criminal record. But where to look and how much to pay sometimes discourage people, including reporters, from looking. Los Angeles County Superior Court charges $4.75 to run a criminal case index.

So I guess what I'm saying is that we don't always run criminal reports on council members, unless we get tips. (hint, hint.)

 Montebello trash fight reveals councilman's criminal record
By Amanda Baumfeld, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/15/2008 11:42:17 PM PDT

Urteaga court documents MONTEBELLO - A fight over a trash contract turned to mud slinging when a group opposed to the plan put materials from a City Councilman's criminal record on the Internet.

In 1998, Councilman Robert Urteaga pleaded no contest to grand theft of personal property totaling $30,000, according to court documents.

"When I ran for office, I knew eventually someone would dig into my background and dig this up," Urteaga said. "I just don't think that this incident happening 10 years ago is a true reflection of who Robert Urteaga is."

Details of the conviction have been on a Web site opposing the city's proposed contract with Athens Services since Oct. 9.

Urteaga along with Councilwomen Kathy Salazar and Rosie Vasquez became a target for independent trash haulers after they voted in favor of a contract with Athens Services in July.

The exclusive 15-year contract, worth about $7.8 million annually, provides Montebello with $500,000 and 7.5 percent of gross receipts from commercial accounts. It phases out contracts with the 13 independent haulers who currently collect trash from commercial areas.

More recently the same council majority voted to postpone a decision on placing a proposed referendum on the ballot. The measure would put the Athens contract to a popular vote.

The criminal complaint filed by the District Attorney's Office in February 1999 accused Urteaga of five counts of check forgery and one count grand theft.

In a July 1999 plea agreement between Urteaga and prosecutors, the forgery counts were dropped by the district attorney, according to court documents.

Urteaga said he accepted responsibility for his conviction, is remorseful and wants to move forward.

"Mine is a story of success, and I didn't let this one incident destroy my life," Urteaga said. "I am a big believer in second chances."

Nonetheless, independent trash haulers are questioning Urteaga's role on the City Council and his support of the Athens deal.

"He really has no ethics in politics or in business," said Aron Patrosian, a trash hauler. "Politically it doesn't look good; he swept it under the carpet and hoped no one would see it."

The conviction dates back to Urteaga's years as a UCLA student when he was 21, he said. Putting himself through school, he took up sports gambling as a means to make extra money, he added.

The councilman said he got in over his head and started losing, so he made bigger bets.

"I got into trouble with people you don't want to get in trouble with. I took money that didn't belong to me," Urteaga said. "My mistake was I didn't ask for help. I was too embarrassed."

The money was taken from a friend he worked for at the time, Urteaga said. He performed 60 days of community service with Caltrans and paid off his debt. He was on probation through November 2002.

Urteaga's older brother Armando, vice president of the East Whittier School District School Board, refers to the incident as a "bump in the road."

"We do things when we are younger, and we don't realize how it can impact the rest of our lives," Armando said. "With Robert, he's learned from his stupid silly mistakes, and he is trying to move forward."

Still the conviction has some residents and the mayor asking whether can Urteaga can hold political office?

"It's very disheartening," Montebello Mayor Bill Molinari said. "There is no question that politically it's very damaging to be involved with grand theft and forgery."

Montebello has no laws that would prevent a felon from running for office, according to City Administrator Richard Torres.

"There is no disqualifying factor that prohibits Urteaga from holding office or participating in any duties as a council member," said City Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman.

A law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in July targeted office holders with felony convictions. But grand theft was not covered in the proposal, authorities said.

"Certain felony convictions prevent those from holding office, but grand theft is not one of them," said Dave Demerjian, head of the District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Division. "Forgery would have prevented him from holding office, but the fact that he was not convicted and only charged (with forgery) would not disqualify him."

Police Chief Dan Weast, who endorsed Urteaga's campaign when he was president of the Montebello Police Officers' Association, refused to comment on Urteaga's conviction.

Vasquez and Salazar remain in support of Urteaga.

"If people want to dig into my personal record, I will accept what comes forward," Urteaga said. "They are trying to pressure me to resign, and I am not going to let them. I am going to fight this."