Pico Rivera Councilman Ron Belike's son implicated in Political Campaign Sign Stealing arrests

Well, it didn't take long for the details to come out about who was the alleged "Mastermind" behind the "campaign sign stealing" caper over in Pico Rivera that took place earlier this morning.

Convroversial Councilman Ron Beilke's adult son James Beilke is the alleged "ring leader" of the political sign stealing crime that has landed 3 of his pals behind bars. 

Here are the LATEST details from the Whittier Daily News. 

Doesn't ANYONE obey the laws when it comes to campaigning in Pico Rivera?  This town is totally outta control.

Seen>>>>>The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office of Public Integrity when they raided Councilman Ron Belike's "Hot Dog" stand earlier this year for alleged corruption charges.
Randy Economy

Three arrested for stealing Armenta campaign signs


Councilman Ron Beilke's son accused of offering to pay for thefts

By Bethania Palma Markus, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/28/2009 07:24:32 PM PDT
Whittier Daily News

PICO RIVERA - Three men were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stealing campaign signs belonging to an incumbent City Council candidate and they accused an opponent's son of paying them to do it, authorities said.

Paul Puente, 20, Steven Duran, 20, and James Diaz, 19, all of Pico Rivera, were arrested at about 2 a.m. Wednesday. The three were booked on suspicion of stealing signs belonging to City Councilman David Armenta, detectives said.

During an interrogation, the three accused James Beilke Jr., son of City Councilman Ron Beilke, of offering to pay them to steal the signs, authorities said.

Councilman Beilke (below, seen pulling up his pants), who was not implicated in the theft, said his son was innocent.  "I think it's ridiculous," he said. "I think it's politics as usual. My son was home in bed last night where these kids should have been."

James Beilke was not available for comment because he was in class, his father said. "The detective interviewed (James Beilke) and he denied any involvement," said L.A. County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Chavez.

The incident began when an L.A. County Sheriff's deputy pulled Puente, Duran and Diaz over for driving without headlights. Their car carried an expired vehicle registration sticker. Inside its trunk deputies found 37 campaign signs for David Armenta, authorities said.

Puente, Duran and Diaz potentially face misdemeanor petty theft charges, Chavez said. James Beilke could face misdemeanor conspiracy to commit petty theft charges.

The investigation is ongoing and sheriff's detectives will bring their case against James Beilke, Puente, Duran and Diaz to the District Attorney's Office to determine whether and what charges will be filed, Chavez said.

Puente, Duran, Diaz and James Beilke are friends, Chavez said. The trio told deputies that James Beilke offered to pay them for taking down campaign signs, Chavez said. Chavez did not know how much was offered nor how the payment would be made.

James Beilke was neither arrested nor charged by deputies because he is accused of committing a misdemeanor not witnessed by law enforcement, Chavez said.

"By law we can't arrest for a misdemeanor that didn't occur in our presence," said L.A. County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Rothans. "All we can do is present it to the DA's office and they choose whether to file a case or not."
bethania.palma@sgvn.com
(562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028