Even by the standards of politics in Southeast Los Angeles County, where investigations of politicians are common, Bell Gardens City Councilman Mario Beltran seemed particularly adept at finding himself in the cross hairs of detectives, prosecutors and even federal agents.
For the last 2 1/2 years, the 31-year-old politician had seemed to skate on the edge: In 2006, Beltran was found unconscious on the floor of a downtown L.A. hotel frequented by prostitutes. He was later convicted of filing a false police report about what happened and how he came to lose his council badge and wallet.
Then last year he was investigated on suspicion of steering a $5-million automobile towing contract to a company connected to an old friend. Beltran was not charged, but the owner of the company now faces charges of making criminal threats against a political rival of the councilman.
On Friday, the Bell Gardens politician pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to file campaign disclosure forms and one count of failing to deposit cash contributions. The charges are misdemeanors, but as part of his plea bargain Beltran agreed to relinquish his City Council seat before his sentencing, and he cannot run for office or be appointed to office for four years. He also cannot do any political lobbying for four years.
L.A. Deputy Dist. Atty. Max Huntsman said Beltran held two fundraisers supposedly to raise money for a political campaign. But, in fact, he needed cash to pay for his defense in the false police report case. The prosecutor said taking Beltran out of action for four years should save residents of Bell Gardens some political anxiety and save taxpayers money.
"Certainly there's been a lot of taxpayer money spent dealing with fallout from things he's done," Huntsman said. "More importantly, he's removed as a decision maker. Four years from now, knowing who Mario Beltran is, if the public wants to elect him, then at least they're informed."
One of Beltran's attorneys in the case, Antonio Rodriguez, said the deal showed that his client "accepts responsibility for the things he did." He called Beltran a "good servant" and said the deal was made so that he would not be exposed to felony charges.
"He's feeling bad. You know, he's a good person," Rodriguez said. "He did some things other politicians also do. Not that that's right."
