Mayor of Brea Pleads Guilty in Conflict Case

Brea Mayor Ronald E. Isles has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of conflict of interest and failing to fully report his financial holdings.

Isles, 54, entered guilty pleas Friday to seven misdemeanor counts stemming from his conduct as a City Council member between 1989 and 1991. Three of the counts dealt with actions he took that benefited entities in which he had a financial interest, and four dealt with loans he failed to report on economic-interest disclosure forms.

Fourteen other counts against him were dismissed in the plea bargain.

Court documents show that Isles agreed to be placed on three years probation and pay fines and assessments totaling $13,500. As part of the agreement, he also consented not to run for elective office or act as a lobbyist for four years.

Notations in the documents indicate that the prosecutor, judge and defense attorney all believed that the plea arrangement did not require Isles to step down from his post immediately. His term as mayor and city council member expires on Dec. 1.

But after the plea agreement was entered, Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. James J. Mulgrew discovered a section of law indicating that a city official must resign once he has pleaded guilty to offenses involving his municipal duties.

Because of that, Isles was being given the chance to withdraw his pleas and go to trial. He said he hoped the matter could be postponed until he leaves office, at which time he would renew his guilty pleas.

Isles contends that he did nothing wrong anbd says he might have been a little careless on his paperwork, and that he had no personal financial gain. His guilty pleas were entered under a provision of law that allows him to state that he does not admit wrongdoing.