Sandra Hutchens

Less Than a Year Since She Was Appointed Sheriff, Sandra Hutchens Has Made Some Powerful Enemies

And Now There Are Two

Five months after indicted Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona resigned to prepare for his corruption trial, the county's board of supervisors (BOS) today narrowed the prospective replacement list from nine candidates to just two: Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters and ex-Los Angeles County Sheriff's ... More >>

And The Sheriff is. . .

Sandra Hutchens! The Orange County Board of Supervisors earlier this morning appointed the retired LA County Sheriff's Department division chief to replace Mike Carona as Orange County Sheriff. The vote was 3-2 in favor of Hutchens. Supervisors Chris Norby and Bill Campbell supported Santa Ana P ... More >>

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens' Green Dream Team

The last time Orange County's sheriff announced the department's new management team, Bill Clinton was president, gasoline cost less than a buck fifty, people could afford their mortgages, and you didn't have to remove your shoes to enter buildings or airport terminals. Everything was better then--e ... More >>

Sheriff & DA Skirmish Over Suspected Pedophile Deputy

Under the leadership of Mike Carona—our N-word-tossing, fanny-slapping, vodka-slurping, money-hungry, FBI-indicted ex-sheriff—the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) sank into an ethical cesspool. It didn’t make a difference if a deputy was a hard-working public servant (and I know qui ... More >>

OC Deputy Zapped In Excessive Force Indictment

An already-bad PR week for Sheriff Sandra Hutchens got worse this morning when Superior Court Judge Richard King unsealed a grand-jury indictment against a veteran Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy who is accused of using excessive force on a handcuffed suspect. Deputy Christopher Hibbs ( ... More >>

This Week in the OC Weekly

An already-bad PR week for Sheriff Sandra Hutchens got worse this morning when Superior Court Judge Richard King unsealed a grand-jury indictment against a veteran Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy who is accused of using excessive force on a handcuffed suspect. Deputy Christopher Hibbs ( ... More >>

Meet OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens

Newport Beach Yacht Club

Sandra, Say It Ain't So!

The deep, angry, artificial breathing you hear in the distance?No, Jim Silva is chewing happily on apple sauce. It's not even James Earl Jones on the set of an upcoming Star Wars flick. It's Orange County's dark political lord Mike "Vader" Schroeder (pictured). At Gulfstream in Newport Beach. In bet ... More >>

Shot Fired at OC Sheriff from Political Dark Lord's Battleship

"Give me your rich, your tanned and my MF'n CCW!"A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away . . . Sheriff Mike Carona gave Mike "Vader" Schroeder, his feisty top political adviser, a permit to carry a concealed weapon (CCW). Last week, the new Orange County sheriff, Sandra Hutchens notified Schroeder ... More >>

See the "Supe Snoop" Footage for Yourself

Surely by now you've heard about the latest scandal to rock the Orange County Sheriff's Department: "Supe Snoop." If you haven't heard about it, you owe it to yourself to read R. Scott Moxley's cover story on Sheriff Sandra Hutchens this week. The footage above that opens over the shoulder of coun ... More >>

[Moxley Confidential] Sheriff Hutchens' Concealed-Weapon Policy Prompts Talk of Homosexual Plot

Surely by now you've heard about the latest scandal to rock the Orange County Sheriff's Department: "Supe Snoop." If you haven't heard about it, you owe it to yourself to read R. Scott Moxley's cover story on Sheriff Sandra Hutchens this week. The footage above that opens over the shoulder of coun ... More >>

[Moxley Confidential] DA Rackauckas and Sheriff Hutchens skirmish over investigation of deputy

Surely by now you've heard about the latest scandal to rock the Orange County Sheriff's Department: "Supe Snoop." If you haven't heard about it, you owe it to yourself to read R. Scott Moxley's cover story on Sheriff Sandra Hutchens this week. The footage above that opens over the shoulder of coun ... More >>

[Moxley Confidential] OC Media Asked to Ignore Still-Emerging Dirt on Mike Carona's PSR Mess

Surely by now you've heard about the latest scandal to rock the Orange County Sheriff's Department: "Supe Snoop." If you haven't heard about it, you owe it to yourself to read R. Scott Moxley's cover story on Sheriff Sandra Hutchens this week. The footage above that opens over the shoulder of coun ... More >>

[Moxley Confidential] Sandra Hutchens' Party Poop

Surely by now you've heard about the latest scandal to rock the Orange County Sheriff's Department: "Supe Snoop." If you haven't heard about it, you owe it to yourself to read R. Scott Moxley's cover story on Sheriff Sandra Hutchens this week. The footage above that opens over the shoulder of coun ... More >>

OC Deputies Outraged That DA Attacked Their Honesty; Demand Top Resignation!

Something rare happened on Friday, April 17--and it wasn't just that the Orange County Register was pretending it had broken news about a trial it's reporters hadn't attended. On that date in 6 B.C., so I'm told, the sun, Jupiter, Saturn and our moon were aligned. I won't pretend to know what astrol ... More >>

Orange County Sheriff Was A Democrat

Sandra Hutchens, Orange County's Republican sheriff, registered as a Democrat for as long as a decade in both Los Angeles and OC, according to records reviewed by the Weekly.In an interview for a March profile, Hutchens told me she is a Republican; holds conservative views, particularly on fiscal ma ... More >>

[Moxley Confidential] Rackauckas Doesn't Blink

Sandra Hutchens, Orange County's Republican sheriff, registered as a Democrat for as long as a decade in both Los Angeles and OC, according to records reviewed by the Weekly.In an interview for a March profile, Hutchens told me she is a Republican; holds conservative views, particularly on fiscal ma ... More >>

Greenhut Blasts Sheriff, Union Boss Over Alleged Deputy Lies Under Oath

Steven GreenhutIn tomorrow's edition of LewRockwell.com, Steven Greenhut writes a column, "Breaking the Code of Silence," that ridicules what the senior Orange County Register editorial writer sees as a continued lack of ethics and decency at the sheriff's department. At issue, according to Greenhu ... More >>

LA Times: It's Good That Sheriff Sandra Hutchens Is Bucking OC Power Elite

The opinion page staff at the Los Angeles Times today handed Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens an endorsement of sorts by hailing her policies as "overdue" change following "the political shenanigans" of sheriff-turned-felon Mike Carona. Their evidence that the sheriff is moving the Orange Count ... More >>

[Moxley Confidential] Sources Say Paul Walters Won't Run for Sheriff

The opinion page staff at the Los Angeles Times today handed Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens an endorsement of sorts by hailing her policies as "overdue" change following "the political shenanigans" of sheriff-turned-felon Mike Carona. Their evidence that the sheriff is moving the Orange Count ... More >>

PAC's Fundraising Appeal: We're Suing OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Helping Campaigns to Oust Her

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, the one on the right.​Funds are being collected for an upcoming court challenge of Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. OCCCCW, a Costa Mesa-based political action committee (PAC) that aims to expand the distribution of concealed weapons permits, has posted o ... More >>

What Does the Mayan Calendar Say About Three H's Running for OC Sheriff?

Sheriff Craig Hunter?​Hang onto your seats, disaster lovers! The dynamics of the 2010 race for Orange County sheriff changed this week with the candidacy of Craig Hunter, second in command at the Anaheim Police Department. No need to consult your astrological chart or the Mayan calendar for a de ... More >>

Roving Patrols to Catch Drivers Under the Influence of Eggnog

Toni Blay on flickr, Creative Commons.​We already warned you about DUI checkpoints to be held in Anaheim, Costa Mesa and Westminster this weekend. If you saw that post and thought "Merry me, I don't live in central county so I can go crazy with the hard cider in my hatchback tonight"... we've got ... More >>

OC Sheriff To Morons: Don't Fire Guns To Celebrate New Year

Don't be a numbskull​Yes, it's almost 2010 and Sheriff Sandra Hutchens can't trust that all of us have emerged from 1880. This morning the sheriff is holding a press conference in hopes of getting out the word that it is illegal and stupid to fire a weapon anywhere in Orange County to celebrate th ... More >>

Excessive Force Controversy Continues To Annoy OC Deputy Union

Deputies reject criticism​Sheriff's deputy union officials are privately continuing to lobby Tony Rackauckas in an effort to get the district attorney to flip-flop on his May 2009 assertion that several deputies gave untruthful testimony to protect another officer accused of twice usin ... More >>

Which OC Sheriff's Candidate Has The Best Campaign Website?

​In just 133 days, Orange County residents will have their first opportunity to vote for sheriff after the FBI and IRS arrest and corruption conviction of Sheriff Mike Carona. There are three candidates at this point: Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, a former Los Angeles County Sheriff's official who was ... More >>

Bill Hunt Captures Deputy Union Endorsement in Sheriff's Race

Sheriff Hutchens loses deputy vote​The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS) announced today that Bill Hunt, a challenger to appointed Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, has overwhelmingly won the powerful union's endorsement for the June election.

Bill Hunt's Remarkable Rise

[Moxley Confidential] Will Mike Carona's ex-punching bag be Orange County's next sheriff?

Prosecutors Enthusiastically Endorse Sheriff Sandra Hutchens

Prosecutors: Hutchens deserves to win sheriff's race​Out on the campaign trail it often looks like Dana Point's Sandra Hutchens doesn't enjoy politics, but today the appointed sheriff has reason to smile after receiving the "enthusiastic and unconditional endorsement" of the Association of Or ... More >>

Sheriff's Poll: Sandra Hutchens In Big Lead

John GilhooleySmile Sandy Smile​The first public poll of voter support in the Orange County sheriff's race found that Sandra Hutchens is far in the lead but significantly short of winning the necessary 50 percent plus vote to avoid a November runoff, according to the Voice of OC.

Who Is Craig Hunter?

[Moxley Confidential] And can he get into a runoff in the sheriff's race by being more OC than Sandra Hutchens and less right-wing than Bill Hunt?

New Poll: Bill Hunt Erased Gap with Sheriff Sandra Hutchens

John GilhooleySandy with a sheriff's best friend​A new poll conducted by Lewis Consulting Group shows that Bill Hunt's campaign has enjoyed a "surprising surge" in recent weeks and now the race for Orange County sheriff is "essentially a dead heat."

Sheriff Hutchens Unleashes Her Mild Fury in KOCE Debate Tonight

Photo by Christopher VictorioHost Rick Reiff (left) quizzes the next sheriff (and two wannabes) in a debate airing tonight.​Time and again, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has played defense at public debates with her two challengers in the upcoming June election. She smiles uncomfortably quite a bit, tap ... More >>

Tea Time!

Will the boiling-mad tea-party crowd sweep sheriff's candidate Bill Hunt to victory?

Bill Hunt, Running for OC Sheriff While Tied to Militia Kooks, Alarms Civil Rights Group

Photo by Christopher VictorioCan a Sheriff Bill Hunt enforce the U.S. Constitution better than anyone else in Orange County?​Orange County ain't big enough for sheriff candidate Bill Hunt and an internationally known nonprofit civil rights group.Hunt, who is running against appointed Sheriff Sandr ... More >>

Election Night Live: The Sheriff Race, a.k.a. the 'Hu-'Down (UPDATE: It's All Over!)

Christopher Victorio / OC WeeklyHunt in the hunt.​Hunt, Hunter, Hutchens: Do you know who's who? The safe bet is that, even after a fairly testy campaign for the Sheriff's seat, voters are still pretty confused by that whole the-candidates-all-have-the-same-name thing. Tonight, though, we find out ... More >>

Now We Begin the Real Sheriff Sandra Hutchens Era

​In the waning days of the campaign for sheriff, a resigned but not defeated Sandra Hutchens argued a point to an unreceptive group of voters in Newport Beach, handed the microphone to rival Bill Hunt and said something like "This crowd is yours again."Time and again, Hunt dominated events with pa ... More >>

She's Still the Sheriff

On the night declared the start of 'the year of the woman,' Sheriff Sandra Hutchens wins big enough to avoid a run-off with either the tea-party guy or the OC Republican-establishment guy

Letters From OC Weekly Readers

On the night declared the start of 'the year of the woman,' Sheriff Sandra Hutchens wins big enough to avoid a run-off with either the tea-party guy or the OC Republican-establishment guy

A Stunner From Sheriff Hutchens

[Moxley Confidential] Documents reveal she found a deputy Taser incident to be absolutely shocking

The Lure of the Sheriff's Badge

Christopher Victorio/OC Weekly​There is no hint that Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens will seek re-election in about 1,450 days, but $7,000 immediately poured into her campaign coffers in the days after her June 8 victory.

What's the Cost for Police Service in Your City?

​At the most recent meeting of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens got the five supes to approve $77 million in annual police service contracts with 11 cities throughout the county.That amount represents a slight increase (primarily due to deputy benefits) over the last ... More >>

Alert: The DA & Sheriff Agree on Something

T-Rack & She-Riff: Together at last​Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and District Attorney Tony Rackauckas may both be Republicans in Orange County but they don't necessarily agree on much. Oh, sure, there's plenty to bond over. A spooked Hutchens once killed an unarmed young minority pe ... More >>

OC Sheriff Slaps Sen. Barbara Boxer

Boxer isn't pragmatic?​Who knew Sheriff Sandra Hutchens could be sassy?Leading up to her June election, Hutchens stole a page from District Attorney Tony Rackauckas: She was wooden and stiff.But now--when it's not her rear end on the line--the sheriff has come out with fighting words about Senator ... More >>

Wanna See Something Really Scary? Halloween DUI Checks and Patrols Across Orange County

​A holiday brought to you by the notorious candy-costume-greeting card cartel presents the perfect opportunity for cops to hold DUI checkpoints and "saturation patrols" all across Orange County."The scariest part of Halloween isn't the spooky costumes and scary pranks," says Sheriff Sandra Hutchen ... More >>

The Top 2010 OC Story That Didn't Make the Register's Year-End List

​Veteran Orange County Register reporter Martin Wisckol has named his "Top 10" political events of 2010.It's a thorough list, except for one thing: it omitted arguably the top local political story of the year.Oops.

Costa Mesa Kills "Luxury" Police Helicopter Program

"Eagle" clips a political wire​Led by freshman Republican city councilman Jim Righeimer, the Costa Mesa City Council late tonight voted to kill an expensive police helicopter program to help resolve a massive budget shortfall."We need to do this," Righeimer said before the 4-1 vote. "This program ... More >>

Deputy Scott Montoya is One Hero the OCSD Doesn't Want

MontoyaFar too often in this era we are apt to name someone a hero when it's not deserved.But Scott Montoya, an Orange County Sheriff's Department deputy, is unquestionably a man who faced imminent, mortal danger with uncommon courage and saved lives.During the April 8, 2003, battle for Baghdad, Mon ... More >>

Mario Manuel Castro, OC Sheriff's Deputy, Charged for Driving on Wrong Side of Road with .24 Blood Alcohol Level

​Moxley is doing...something...so I'll step up to the plate and use his Orange County Sheriff's Department bat to smash Sandra Hutchens' crew anew. After all, this one writes itself!On Sept. 30, sheriff's deputy Mario Manuel Castro had a few too many at a Costa Mesa bar while off-duty--like, three ... More >>