VENTURA : Council Candidate Serving Jail Term

John T. Sudak, a Ventura City Council candidate with a history of driving violations, is serving 45 days in Ventura County Jail for driving without a license, court records show.

In a related matter, Sudak’s wife, Carol, contends that she was roughed up by a bailiff Monday when her husband was in court on another traffic case. She said she has filed a complaint with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

John Sudak, 30, who listed his occupation on candidacy papers as an advocate for children, began serving the sentence Aug. 9. Ventura police cited him for driving with a suspended license and no proof of insurance on April 12, 1990, in the Ventura County Government Center parking lot.

At the time, Sudak had been convicted of driving with a suspended license on three occasions dating back to 1987. Records at the Department of Motor Vehicles show that Sudak also has been ticketed during the past five years for speeding, not wearing seat belts and not having proof of insurance.

In a plea agreement, Sudak pleaded no contest Oct. 24, 1990, to driving without a license in return for prosecutors dropping charges of driving without insurance and striking some past convictions from consideration in sentencing, court records show. He later appealed the case on grounds that he was coerced into the agreement.

On June 19 his appeal to Superior Court was rejected and he was ordered to begin serving his jail sentence.

On Monday, Sudak was in Municipal Court on another case involving a July 10 traffic citation for driving without a license and operating a vehicle with a noisy exhaust pipe.

During the legal proceedings, a bailiff asked Carol Sudak to leave the courtroom, contending that she was trying to communicate with her husband in violation of courtroom rules.

But Carol Sudak said that was untrue and that she was simply gathering legal papers to be given to her husband. She said the bailiff led her by the arm out of the courtroom and slammed her twice against a wall, injuring her back.

Cmdr. John Kingsley, who supervises bailiffs, said Carol Sudak “was asked to leave nicely and she refused.” He said the bailiff acted properly in physically removing her and that any injuries to her back did not occur during the confrontation.

John Sudak is among 17 candidates seeking council seats in the Nov. 4 election.