09-12-21 Requesting Sheriff Lee Baca copies of the arrest and booking papers of Richard Fine and Ronald Gottschalk

  

Joseph Zernik, DMD, PhD
PO Box 526, La Verne, CA 91750; fax: 801 998-0917; email: jz12345@earthlink.net

December 21, 2009
Sheriff Lee Baca
Sheriff Department of Los Angeles County

RE: Repeat request for access to public records that were arrest and booking papers of inmates: 1.Booking No: 1824367 Richard Fine; 2. Booking No: 2088144 Ronald Gottschalk

Dear Sheriff Baca:

In response to requests for assistance by Supervisor Antonowitch regarding denial of access to public records by your office, where public access was provided by California Public Records Act, Supervisor Antonowitch's office informed me that your office stated that you faxed me a response on November 4, 2009.  I have no record of such fax, and would be grateful if you could send it again, hoping that it indeed included the requested public records -  arrest and booking records of:
1.       Booking No: 1824367 Richard Fine
2.       Booking No: 2088144 Ronald Gottschalk
Obviously, concern was that the Sheriff Department was holding for 9 months Attorney Richard Fine in violation of the law, and the denial of access to arrest and booking papers was meant to cover up that fact.  Likewise, his holding in a hospital room, with no medical justification, was likely to be a way of keeping him off the three times a day routine counts of inmates - since Richard Fine was an "off the record", "off the count" inmate.
The holding of Attorney Gottschalk, since released on bail, likewise, was in a medical facility, and again - concern was that it was in violation of the law.
A well-recognized civil rights organization, which advised me in this matter, stated that they routinely made such requests in other counties of California, and that other counties routinely complied with the law.  There was no reason why LA County Sheriff Department would not likewise comply with the law.
I would be grateful for your expedient response.

Truly,

Joseph Zernik

CC: Office of Supervisor Antonowitch