Scott Steiner

The mailers once depicted her peering from behind a pile of lumber and accepting hefty donations from sinister developers. Now Carolyn Cavecche, a conservative running for the Orange City Council in an officially nonpartisan election, is painted as a "liberal activist" in cahoots with like-minded operatives out to destroy the GOP. So is she a tree-hugger or a builder's pawn? Whatever sticks. Such is the state of politics in Orange.

An Orange County Superior Court judge is being investigated by the Sheriff's Department on suspicion of improper sexual conduct - allegedly in his courtroom chambers - authorities said. Deputies are completing a monthlong investigation into Scott Steiner, a former high-ranking prosecutor and the son of former Orange County Supervisor William Steiner, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman with the Sheriff's Department. Amormino said that Steiner's chambers were searched and potential evidence was taken for DNA testing.

An Orange County Superior Court judge is being investigated by the Sheriff's Department on suspicion of improper sexual conduct - allegedly in his courtroom chambers - authorities said. Deputies are completing a monthlong investigation into Scott Steiner, a former high-ranking prosecutor and the son of former Orange County Supervisor William Steiner, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman with the Sheriff's Department. Amormino said that Steiner's chambers were searched and potential evidence was taken for DNA testing.

An investigation into an Orange County Superior Court judge accused of  improper sexual conduct in his chambers is expected to be completed next week. The monthlong investigation involves Scott Steiner, a former high-ranking prosecutor and the son of former Orange County Supervisor William Steiner, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman with the Sheriff's Department.  “We're looking into all the allegations to see if they're criminal or not,” Amormino said. Amormino said that Steiner's chambers were searched, and potential evidence was gathered and will be tested for DNA. Deputies will send the final report to the state attorney general, Amormino said.

Government watchdogs are criticizing Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas for his handling of the latest controversy in his office: allegations that a deputy used an office computer on a political campaign. Rackauckas has not asked the state attorney general to investigate Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Steiner even though he has routinely handed off other allegations against staff to state prosecutors.

An investigation into an Orange County Superior Court judge accused of  improper sexual conduct in his chambers is expected to be completed next week. The monthlong investigation involves Scott Steiner, a former high-ranking prosecutor and the son of former Orange County Supervisor William Steiner, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman with the Sheriff's Department.  “We're looking into all the allegations to see if they're criminal or not,” Amormino said. Amormino said that Steiner's chambers were searched, and potential evidence was gathered and will be tested for DNA. Deputies will send the final report to the state attorney general, Amormino said.

Officials at the state Attorney General's Office confirmed they are reviewing allegations that Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty.Scott Steiner used his office computer in campaigning for a seat on the Orange City Council. Steiner allegedly used government equipment to send campaign e-mail, compile a list of contributors, and draft political fliers and debate notes.

Grass-roots GOP activist Carolyn V. Cavecche, a fiscal conservative and fierce opponent of an airport at El Toro, soundly defeated the county Republican establishment's favored candidate Tuesday in the Orange City Council election. Cavecche, outspent nearly 2-to-1 by opponent Scott Steiner, will fill a seat left vacant after Councilman Mark Murphy was elected mayor in November. Cavecche won 61% of the vote, with Steiner getting 35% and Michael Vogelvang capturing just over 3%.

An Orange County Superior Court judge is being investigated by the Sheriff's Department on suspicion of  improper sexual conduct -- allegedly in his courtroom chambers - authorities said. Deputies are completing a month-long investigation into Scott Steiner, a former high-ranking prosecutor and the son of former Orange County Supervisor William Steiner, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman with the sheriff's department.  Amormino said that Steiner's chambers were searched, and potential evidence was gathered and will be tested for DNA. The investigation is expected to be completed next week, and deputies will send a report to the state attorney general, Amormino said.

Officials at the state attorney general's office confirmed they are reviewing allegations that Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Steiner used his office computer to campaign for a seat on the Orange City Council. Steiner allegedly used government equipment to send campaign e-mail, compile a list of contributors, and draft political fliers and debate notes. The matter was referred to the attorney general by county Dist. Atty.

An Orange County Superior Court judge is being investigated by the Sheriff's Department on suspicion of  improper sexual conduct -- allegedly in his courtroom chambers - authorities said. Deputies are completing a month-long investigation into Scott Steiner, a former high-ranking prosecutor and the son of former Orange County Supervisor William Steiner, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman with the sheriff's department.  Amormino said that Steiner's chambers were searched, and potential evidence was gathered and will be tested for DNA. The investigation is expected to be completed next week, and deputies will send a report to the state attorney general, Amormino said.

Grass-roots GOP activist Carolyn V. Cavecche, a fiscal conservative and fierce opponent of an airport at El Toro, soundly defeated the county Republican establishment's favored candidate Tuesday in the Orange City Council election. Cavecche, outspent nearly 2-to-1 by opponent Scott Steiner, will fill a seat left vacant after Councilman Mark Murphy was elected mayor in November. Cavecche won 61% of the vote, with Steiner getting 35% and Michael Vogelvang capturing just over 3%.

Officials at the state Attorney General's Office confirmed they are reviewing allegations that Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty.Scott Steiner used his office computer in campaigning for a seat on the Orange City Council. Steiner allegedly used government equipment to send campaign e-mail, compile a list of contributors, and draft political fliers and debate notes.

The mailers once depicted her peering from behind a pile of lumber and accepting hefty donations from sinister developers. Now Carolyn Cavecche, a conservative running for the Orange City Council in an officially nonpartisan election, is painted as a "liberal activist" in cahoots with like-minded operatives out to destroy the GOP. So is she a tree-hugger or a builder's pawn? Whatever sticks. Such is the state of politics in Orange.

Government watchdogs are criticizing Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas for his handling of the latest controversy in his office: allegations that a deputy used an office computer on a political campaign. Rackauckas has not asked the state attorney general to investigate Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Steiner even though he has routinely handed off other allegations against staff to state prosecutors.

The state attorney general's office will not file criminal charges against an Orange County deputy prosecutor accused of using his county computer to work on his political campaign, an official said Monday. Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Steiner was accused of using the office computer last year for work related to his unsuccessful campaign for the Orange City Council. State prosecutors investigated the complaints so local prosecutors would avoid a conflict of interest. Deputy Atty. Gen.

A building designer who pleaded guilty Friday to attempting to bribe a Westminster city official was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and three years of formal probation. Trung Hieu Vo, 63, gave an envelope containing $1,000 to city planning official Sammy Rake in April to speed up the progress of a retail center he was planning at Brookhurst Street and McFadden Avenue, officials said. Suspicious, Rake notified police before opening the envelope.