Montoya ‘Wanted to Be a Millionaire’ : Corruption trial: Former aide provides some dramatic testimony. In the process, he admits to taking a little for himself.
SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Joseph B. Montoya wanted to become a millionaire “any way he could†and once explained that he sided with land developers because “they pay more,†a former aide to the senator testified Wednesday.
Jerry Asher, who worked for the Whittier Democrat for more than a decade, also said Montoya once put a $2,500 price tag on his support for a bill and received free kitchen appliances from former state Republican Chairman Mike Montgomery.
In dramatic courtroom testimony, Asher also admitted that he personally accepted $3,400 in cash and appliances from Montgomery--a former member of the state Fair Political Practices Commission--and never reported the gifts as required by law.
And Asher told the jury that he once pocketed $500 that was part of a $3,000 campaign contribution to Montoya from a lobbyist seeking to influence the senator’s vote on a bill.
Asher’s description of corruption in Montoya’s Senate office came in the third week of the legislator’s trial on 12 counts of extortion, bribery, racketeering and money laundering.
Prosecutors hope that Asher’s statements will bolster their contention that Montoya became consumed with greed in the early 1980s and began using his office as a way to become rich.
“He wanted to become a millionaire,†Asher testified that the senator once told him. “It was the best thing he could do for his family: become a millionaire any way he could.â€
But the testimony of Asher--once Montoya’s closest aide--did not directly substantiate any of the specific counts against Montoya. Furthermore, many details of the incidents he discussed were left unexplained.
Under sharp cross-examination by defense attorney Michael Sands, Asher admitted that he had engaged in a variety of improper conduct and false representations. And he acknowledged that Montoya fired him in 1983, saying that “he no longer trusted me.â€
Asher, who now teaches high school English in Tulare County, testified that he first received under-the-table payments from Montgomery in 1976 when he accepted $100. He took another $300 a year or two later, he said.
Asher testified that Montgomery had asked him to “keep a watch on Sen. Montoya for him.†But the former aide did not explain why Montgomery was interested in the senator’s activities.
In 1982, Asher said he accepted Montgomery’s offer of kitchen appliances and received a washer and dryer, trash compactor, microwave and refrigerator valued at $3,000.
Asher said Montoya also received a microwave and refrigerator from Montgomery. A review by The Times of financial reports Montoya filed with the state for the years 1976 through 1988 indicate that the senator never reported receiving any gifts from Montgomery.
Montgomery served from 1985 to early 1989 on the Fair Political Practices Commission, which among other things enforces the law requiring state officials to report the gifts they receive. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday at his law office in Los Angeles.
While working for Montoya, Asher told the jury, he once was approached by Norbert Dall, a lobbyist for land developers, in a Capitol hallway. Dall said he needed the senator’s help on a bill and asked “how much it would cost.â€
Asher said he relayed Dall’s question to the senator and Montoya replied that his support would require five $500 tickets to an upcoming campaign fund-raiser.
But Asher said he then told Dall it would cost $3,000 for Montoya’s support and pocketed the extra $500. “I padded what Montoya’s cost would be on a bill,†he said. Dall could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
On several occasions in the early 1980s, Asher testified, Montoya told him he voted for bills because of payments he would receive. After voting for a bill to help the tobacco industry, the senator explained it was a “juice bill†that would bring campaign contributions, Asher testified.
Also in the early 1980s, Asher said, Montoya sided with developers on a bill affecting an area along Mulholland Drive and explained, “They pay more.â€
The former aide said Montoya first became interested in seeking honorariums from groups affected by legislation after reading a 1982 article in The Times explaining how some legislators were making thousands of dollars in speaking fees.
“Pilar (Montoya’s wife) had been on his case because (others) had gotten more than he had,†Asher said. “He started to pay more attention to where honorariums could be be gotten.â€
It was about the same time that Montoya began dealing personally with the “big boys†who were major campaign contributors, Asher said. And Montoya stepped up his efforts to acquire rental properties, relying on his Capitol office secretary to handle rent checks and tenants’ maintenance problems, Asher said.
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