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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Desert Messenger photographer files false charges againt candidate!

A "bearcat" or binturong is basically a big angry weasel.
Besides being the photographer for the local tabloid "Desert Messenger" who, or for that matter what Starr Bearcat is...well that's still anybody's guess.
Who or what he/she was before changing his/her name to Starr Bearcat is a mystery. What is Bearcat's real name? Did Bearcat really serve on a navy ship? Why did  Bearcat refuse to clear up the gender question under oath last fall in the La Paz County Justice Court, even after Judge Newman repeatedly referred to "that man as Ms. Bearcat"? Was Bearcat a felon? Was Bearcat a child molester? Was Bearcat a sexual predator? Was Bearcat a drug dealer, armed robber, arsonist or maybe even the person who sent the Quartzsite mayor a death threat? If you know any information about Mr./Ms. Bearcat, please contact the FBI in Phoenix or post it here as a comment. And by the way, who was Shananna "Rain" Goldenbear before she had to change her name and leave Oregon for a fresh start. Do they have a history of trouble before landing in Quartzsite? Inquiring minds want to know!

What is known is Bearcat's close relationship with Police Chief Jeff Gilbert. Bearcat has written several statements supporting investigations conducted by Gilbert and the QPD. Bearcat appears to have access to information that should be privileged, or available only to someone with access to restricted databases, like the chief.

The following letter was reportedly sent to several sources, including La Paz County Prosecutor Sam Vederman and QPD imperious leader Jeff Gilbert:

Statement RE: Case # 11-00164

Dear Mr. Vederman,

On February 16th, 2011, Sgt. Xavier Frausto initiated an investigation against me because of a sworn statement made by Starr Bearcat, photographer for The Desert Messenger. This is the second violation of A.R.S. 13-2907.01 (two false statements) made by Starr Bearcat to the QPD against me in the last six months. Please refer to the criminal complaint filed against Starr Bearcat and Shanana “Rain” Goldenbear with La Paz County Sheriff Lucas, case #101000713 on October 28th, 2010.

Bearcat’s statement references a prior conversation and accuses me of claiming to not pay taxes because it was unconstitutional. Not only is this hearsay, but also I have never discussed my personal financial disposition with Starr Bearcat. However, now that I am lawfully running for office, I am open to public scrutiny and I will therefore openly admit that I live below the poverty level, but in America, even the poor can run for public office.

Bearcat claims that I “refuse to abide by the Town’s laws and ordinances” because I am “operating three businesses without licenses”. This is also false and completely unsubstantiated. I hold a valid town vendor permit for “pet grooming and pet sitting” DBA “A Fur Salon”. No other license has been proven to be required and I have never been fined for operating any business in Quartzsite without a license, ever. This is either my tenth or eleventh season as a seasonal service business vendor in Quartzsite.

Further, Bearcat states that I have been given an eviction notice “for violating the zoning laws”. Also, completely untrue. I have never been convicted of violating any Quartzsite, La Paz County, Arizona, or Federal law.

I leased the back lot of J & S Covers for the 2010-2011 season from property owner Jim Aaron in June of 2010 when I groomed his ShihTzu “Rio”, shortly before my previous vendor permit at “Greasewood” expired on June 30th, 2010. “Greasewood” is a mobile home park doing business as a swap meet. It is on record in the La Paz County Justice Court, Quartzsite Division, that I leased part of that property, after I became a resident of Quartzsite. As near as can be documented, my residency commenced on 10-6-09, although it may actually have been the end of September ‘09. At that time, I did not realize the subsequent length of my stay would eventually require me to declare Arizona residency.

Although I had been residing in Quartzsite for about six months out of the year, over the past six or seven years, I was not even aware that I had actually become a resident of Quartzsite, until the late spring of 2010. When Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert and Town Manager Alex Taft initiated an investigation into the residency of then candidates Chaunce Hamilton and Russell Sias I had the opportunity to view documents related to that investigation, provided to Mr. Sias by your office. I then did an internet search and found information which stated something to the effect that I needed to have an identification from the MVD if I had been in Arizona for 7 months during any calendar year. Because my stay in AZ was no longer “temporary” or “transitory” and because as of June I intended to be “domiciled” in Quartzsite for more than 7 months of the 2010 calendar year, I acquired an Arizona ID at my first available opportunity, on June 1st, 2010.

On the MVD application, there is a box you can check which states, “Are you a United States citizen who wished to register to vote or update your existing voter registration?” So I did.

On June 8th, 2010, I served the Town of Quartzsite with a legal Notice of Claim resulting from Police Chief Jeff Gilbert’s assault on my husband and subsequent harassment by his officers under Duty Sergeant Xavier Frausto. Upon the advice of my attorney, I did not make a public appearance in Quartzsite for several weeks, until the time for their legal opportunity to respond had expired.

Over the summer, outraged citizens recalled the council members I am currently pursuing a civil claim against. My friends asked if I would consider running for town council. I told them that I would, if I was eligible. I surrendered my old driver’s license to the MVD on 10-28-10 , and filed to run 1-6-11.

If the investigating officer, Sergeant Xavier Frausto had done his “due diligence”, he would have discovered the fact that I have never registered to vote in Oklahoma or filed a state tax return as a resident of Oklahoma, or even operated any business in the state of Oklahoma, ever. I have not “re-established residency in Oklahoma” as he asserts in his report. Rather, I relinquished all ties to a part time vacation address, where I used to be a summer caretaker.

I believe that all statements sworn to on my Arizona Nonpartisan Nomination Paper Affidavit of Qualification are factually true and were true when I swore to them. I am now, and have been for at least one year prior to the election, a resident of Quartzsite, Arizona. Based on the evidence, no reasonable person would have cause to believe otherwise.

Additionally, because these false allegations involve an election issue, the complaint by Starr Bearcat should have been immediately turned over to La Paz County for investigation. The Quartzsite Police Department was not the proper investigative authority and a serious conflict of interest exists due to ongoing civil and criminal matters between my husband and I, and the QPD that have not been yet been resolved.

If you intend to pursue this matter further, convene a grand jury and get a warrant this time.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Jones


It appears that Vederman may have actually convened a grand jury today and QPD Sergeant Xavier Frausto may have testified, but nobody at the county will disclose whether or not candidate Jones case was heard. Speculation is that incumbents are desperate to discredit yet another qualified and popular challenger and these underhanded tactics only serve to prove that the current council can't possibly win if they play fair and just stick to the facts.


Friday, February 4, 2011

It's a dry heat?

Not in the winter folks, and the desert can get cold at night. Although most people around the country are actually shoveling out from under snowdrifts, here in Quartzsite, we're still marveling at the fact that it was actually cold enough to freeze this fountain!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

La Paz County funds frozen for non payment of judgement!

Although all three La Paz County Supervisors were elected on their pledge to negotiate a settlement with Jim Willet and Yakima Company, and despite Dan Fields being hired as County Administrator for the same purpose, stalled negotiations and appeals of a jury settlement have resulted in a writ of attachment against approx. $10.9 million in public funds supervised by the County.

Former Quartzsite Town Manager/Town Attorney, now County Administrator feigned shock and surprise at this standard legal tactic, calling Willet "foolhardy" and "unethical" (looked in the mirror lately Danny boy?). Fields had previously laughed off Willet's attempts at negotiation claiming "you cant get blood out of a turnip".

The Appeals Court issued a mandate to the La Paz Superior Court on January 21st 2011
 With no settlement in sight and the Supervisors approving to hire yet another law firm at the Jan. meeting, the writ means that the attached funds cannot be used by the State, Special Districts, Public Works or any of the other entities to whom it is being held for, essentially putting all of the county services and employees at the mercy of the Supervisors greed, arrogance and stupidity. Naturally, they are trying to shift the blame for this financial crisis to Willet, who saw his life's work go down the toilet and just wants what he's owed. 

An emergency meeting concerning the Freeze on County Funds has been called for Thursday 2/3/11 at 1:30pm. The location of the hearing is the La Paz County Superior Court Room.