Ortiz Allegedly Jockeyed Pact to Bilk County

Former San Diego County Registrar of Voters Ray Ortiz manipulated a contract with a Los Angeles printing firm to get taxpayers to pay for trips for himself and his staff and to divert funds for personal use, prosecutors alleged Thursday.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Douglas Gregg made the accusation in his opening argument during the first day of Ortiz’s trial.

Ortiz, 52, was indicted in December on 27 felony counts of grand theft, misappropriation of public funds and making false entries in public records. Ortiz is charged with stealing $7,300 from the county in six transactions between May, 1984, and July, 1986.

Co-defendant Lance Gough, 32, is charged with a single count of grand theft. Gough, who is being tried with Ortiz, is an elections consultant and former member of the Chicago Board of Elections.

A third defendant, Maria Caldera, 51, a former official with the registrar’s office and a longtime Ortiz associate, will go to trial July 14 on multiple grand theft charges.

“This case could be summarized in one word . . . manipulation, manipulation of a county contract with Jeffries Banknote Co.,” Gregg said. In 1983, Jeffries was awarded a contract to do all of the printing for the registrar.

According to the scenario described by Gregg, Ortiz informed Jeffries’ vice president, Lynn Kienle, that Caldera and Gough had done consulting work for the registrar’s office and instructed Kienle to pay them. Kienle allegedly paid Caldera and Gough and then billed the county on instructions from Ortiz.

Gregg said, however, that the invoices submitted by Kienle to the county failed to list Caldera and Gough as consultants. Instead, the billings for the work allegedly done by the pair were included in other invoices submitted by Jeffries for Ortiz’s approval.

Gregg said some of the funds paid by Jeffries to Caldera ended up in Ortiz’s private account. Ortiz used part of the money to buy a car for his daughter, Gregg said. Kienle testified at a preliminary hearing in January that he did not know whether Caldera and Gough did the consulting work they were paid for.

Jeffries also paid for trips taken by Ortiz and others affiliated with the registrar’s office to Chicago, New Orleans and Redding, Calif., Gregg said. Kienle received immunity from prosecution and is expected to testify today, when the prosecution begins to present evidence.

Merle Schneidewind, Ortiz’s attorney, is scheduled to present his opening argument to the jury this morning. Buford Wiley, Gough’s attorney, is not expected to make an opening argument until the prosecution rests.