Perris Councilman Admits Drug-Related Felony

Photo courtesy of the Riverside Sheriff’s Department

By City News Service

A Perris city councilman caught with methamphetamine after reporting that his city-issued iPad had been stolen pleaded guilty Monday to possession of drugs for sale.

Julio Cesar Rodriguez, 29, was arrested last June after he was found with an undisclosed quantity of meth and exhibited signs of being under the influence of the drug.

Just prior to a scheduled preliminary hearing this morning at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Rodriguez’s attorney, Steve Allen, informed Riverside County Superior Court Judge David Gunn that a plea agreement had been negotiated with the District Attorney’s Office.

In exchange for admitting the possession count, the D.A.’s office agreed to drop three other felony and two misdemeanor charges against Rodriguez, who is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.

Rodriguez, who remains free on a $30,000 bond, is expected to receive a brief jail sentence and three years probation.

The first-term councilman, whose term expires next year, previously denied wrongdoing and defiantly stated he would remain in his seat, despite calls for his resignation. A recall campaign was initiated last fall but ran aground in February after there were problems validating signatures.

It was not immediately clear whether the defendant would now resign or face a removal vote by his fellow council members. City of Perris spokesman Joe Vargo told City News Service that the council intends to take up the matter during its Tuesday meeting.

According to court papers, Rodriguez called deputies to a Perris motel last June 24 to report the theft of his city-issued iPad, leading to a wider investigation into his activity.

Investigators learned that Rodriguez had spent the night with two men, and that after the trio breakfasted together, one of the men, whose identity was not released, made an excuse to return to the room, then left the motel, apparently with the iPad.

An irate Rodriguez began sending text messages demanding that the device be returned, prompting replies from the unidentified man that the defendant should calm down and not involve the authorities, who would see that he was high, according to investigators.

The stolen iPad was later tracked down after it had been sold via an Internet site.

A few weeks before charges were filed last September, Mayor Daryl Busch urged Rodriguez to resign, but the defendant was adamant about retaining his seat. The council stripped Rodriguez of all his committee assignments, restricting him to attending and voting during routine council meetings only.

According to court records, he has prior convictions for driving-related offenses, but nothing more serious.