Rene Montes is the mastermind and the ring leader in the now well-known and publicized AIG/Matrix embezzlement case, which was heard in Orange County Superior Court since the arrests of the four defendants Rene Montes, Hector Porrata, George Martinez, and Cara Cruz-Thompson on May 6, 2009.  The amount embezzled out of AIG (now Chartis) and Matrix Absence Management was close to 1.5 million dollars.  The embezzlements took place between 2003 and 2006.

There is kind of an interesting twist to yesterday's trailed hearing: there was a black out at the Superior Court Building where this hearing was to be held at 401 Civic Center Drive in Santa Ana, California.  The black out started at 7 am. When I arrived at 9 am, I saw a crowd of about 150 people standing in front of the building milling around, and of course I thought what the heck is going on, but I just weaved my way through the crowd and walked into the building, through the security check which included putting my purse onto the conveyor belt, as I made my way through the darkened interior to the elevator.

There were some lights on, but the interior was still very dim and the escalator was stopped with yellow cones in front of it to stop people from stepping on.  I aggressively tried to get the elevator to work as I wanted to get up to the 9th floor, which is where Judge Frank Fasel's court room is located.  But, at last a deputy sheriff confronted me and asked me if I was a D.A. or a public defender or an employee of the building, and when I said no he kicked me out.  So, out I went into the cold dank morning.  It was still wet in the front court yard from the morning rain.

A deputy who was keeping order at the front door spoke to me and told me the power problem was most likely originating from the adjacent building behind and that the last time this kind of power outage happened the power did not go back on in full until 1 pm.  By this time, it's only 10 am.  So, I decide I'm going to eat a hot dog from the hot dog vendor on the corner (at 10 am, what a tasty breakfast) and then I'm going to send a text message to deputy district attorney Thomas Schultz. 

He answered me within about 10 minutes, stating that he had gotten to the court house this morning but left because of the power outage.  He also said he had gotten a call from Fred's secretary that Fred is in trial in San Jose and that they sent someone to tell the judge that and they are asking for another continuance.

Fred McBride has now asked for four continuances and if there had not been a power outage I am sure the judge would have delivered some strong words and Schultz would have in harmony given a strong objection as background vocals.  McBride was saved by the power outage.

Rene Montes is facing a maximum of 12 years in state prison, according to the judge's agreement back in June; however, he needs to be formally sentenced and shipped off to prison.  But he remains presently in limbo at the Theo Lacey Facility in Orange on 501 The City Drive South.  He was transferred there from the Men's Central Jail on 505 So. Flower Street in Santa Ana recently.  The Theo Lacey Facility is a better facility, meaning it is not as rough or as challenging a place to live in as the Men's Central Jail.

However, he needs to be formally sentenced.  But Fred McBride, Rene Montes' court appointed attorney, keeps continuing Rene's formal sentencing like he has better things to do.  I have counted four continuances so far.

When I finally got to my mail box early in the evening yesterday, there was a letter waiting for me from Hector Porrata. Hector is now serving his 8 year sentence presently at a prison in Jamestown, California, just due east of Stockton and Modesto in Central California.  He has been approved for entrance into a Fire Camp, and is waiting for his school transcripts to arrive and for the program to begin for him.  He will then be transferred to another location for his training. 

He responds to some information I communicated to him that George Martinez, another defendant in the case who was released from Orange County jail last May 7th 2010, is now living in Orange County with his wife, Bernadette, with their four children.  They lost their house last month to foreclosure. They are starting their lives over again by going back to school. George doesn't want to discuss his ordeal, therefore he does not communicate with me.  Hector writes, "I wish him the best.  Were you aware that he (George) signed a confession the day we were arrested naming Rene and I as co-conspirators? It's true. And probably the main reason the D.A. refused to make offers for less time as a result. But that is a major torrent of water under the bridge! LOL!  I bear him no ill will.  May his life be filled with many blessings and may he continue to be the father he was before he was incarcerated."

When I first read this part of Hector's letter, I interpreted his short sentence, "It's true," to mean that it's true that he, Hector, really was the co-conspirator with Rene Montes. I interpreted it as Hector making a direct confession to me that he co-conspired with Rene. But, now I see this writing as ambiguous.  Hector could mean "It's true" to mean that it's true that George Martinez wrote in his confession that Hector and Rene co-conspired.  So, which meaning is Hector's real meaning?  I am going to have to find out.

Readers may write to writer Lonce LaMon at lonce@adjustercom.com