S.B. County may start charging bail bond firms

Bail bond companies would no longer get free advertising at San Bernardino County jails under a proposal the Board of Supervisors will consider Tuesday.

Sheriff Rod Hoops is proposing that the county charge bail bond companies a fee to have their services listed at county detention facilities.

Currently, the county provides detainees with a list of 135 bail bond companies — approved by the California Board of Insurance — for free.

Under the proposed ordinance, the companies listed at the county’s four jails would be charged $50 per month, and those listed at five detention facilities at sheriff’s stations would be charged $10 a month.

The program, which is similar to those in other counties, would generate about $97,200 annually, according to a report to the county board.

A sheriff’s custody specialist would oversee the bond list as part of his or her regular duties, verifying all bail agent licenses, arranging for the printing of the list and collecting fees.

Instead of listing companies alphabetically as done currently, if the ordinance passes the jails would conduct a monthly random draw to determine the order of the listing.

The board meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at 385 Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino.

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

Inmate found hanging in West Valley jail cell by his T-shirt

An inmate at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga died Monday, three
days after a deputy discovered him hanging by his white, cotton T-shirt in his jail
cell, officials said.

At 11:20 p.m. Friday, a deputy found 23-year-old Lucerne Valley resident Alvaro
Ortega hanging in his cell, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Arden Wiltshire.

Ortega, who had 11 counts pending against him, was taken to Kaiser Permanente
Hospital in Fontana and pronounced dead at 10:55 a.m. Monday, said coroner’s
spokeswoman Sandy Fatland.

The autopsy will be conducted by Riverside County officials because the death took place in the Sheriff’s Department’s custody.

Ortega was arrested on Jan. 18, 2008 and being held on $250,000 bail, Wiltshire said.

Ortega was charged with eight counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of attempted robbery.

By Jason Pesick on January 14, 2009 4:45 PM