Blanca Gomez of Victorville was convicted by jury on Oct. 10 of two counts of disturbing her own city council meeting and two counts of resisting a public officer.
Gomez is running in two elections in the Nov. 5 election: San Bernardino County Assessor/Recorder and Victorville City Council member. Victorville Mayor Elizabeth Becerra is challenging her as council member.
A sentencing hearing will be held Nov. 15. All four convictions have a maximum fine of $1,000. The disturbance charges come with a maximum of six months in jail, while the resisting charges have a maximum imprisonment of a year.
Gomez’ attorney, Vonya Quarles, was not immediately available to comment.
A fifth charge, for conspiracy to commit crime, was struck by San Bernardino Superior Judge Michael Camber on Oct. 1.
The meeting
At the July 20, 2021 Victorville City Council meeting, Gomez was arrested after consistently interrupting and talking over other council members.
Robert Daniel Rodriguez, who was also charged with obstructing two officers, disturbing the meeting and trespassing at Panera Bread on a separate date, was recording the meeting.
The Victorville City Council had been discussing adopting Spanish-language translators when then-Mayor Debra Jones noted Rodriguez, who was dressed in a head-covering mask with a dark hat and suit, was recording the meeting and extending a cell phone toward Jones’ husband’s face.
Jones asked City Attorney Andre De Bortnowsky if audience members could record fellow attendees, and De Bortnowsky said it looked like Rodriguez was disturbing the meeting, and that Jones could ask Rodriguez to leave if he was.
“The gentleman in the mask will cease at this moment or I’m going to ask you to leave,” Jones said. Gomez said Rodriguez had been recording, that Gene Jones was also recording, and that she had recorded both of them.
Rodriguez did not stop recording.
Debra Jones asked sheriff deputies to search Rodriguez’ phone “to see if he had been recording” and then ordered him removed. Gomez joined Rodriguez in recording the three deputies. She left the dais during open session and stood between Rodriguez and the deputies.
The City Council’s video stopped recording when Mayor Jones called for a break, but two minutes later it showed Gomez standing between Rodriguez and the three sheriff’s deputies, then the five of them walking out together.
A separate video showed Gomez handcuffed and on the lobby ground.
Civil suit
Gomez filed a civil suit in federal court alleging unlawful arrest on Aug. 4, 2021. That case has been stayed since the misdemeanor suit was not yet complete.
Subsequent incident
Gomez was also arrested, and charged with the misdemeanor of disturbing a public meeting, at Victorville’s Feb. 21, 2023 City Council meeting. That case is not yet resolved.
During the public comment session, Gomez approached the floor lectern to speak. She began by addressing the audience, then mentioned the council’s closed session meeting.
“I wanted to make sure I spoke today, and if anyone is watching this button right here…” she began while showing a device to the audience. Debra Jones cut her off, and asked her to speak directly to the council.
“You may be surprised to know that during closed session,” Gomez began again, before pausing and pointing at then-Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Becerra.
“Miss Gomez may not speak to closed session,” Debra Jones said before cutting Gomez’ microphone. Gomez continued to speak without a microphone.
Case information
Case No. MVI21007253
Read our previous coverage:
Councilwoman-sheriff’s deputies case ordered to mediation
Councilwoman charged, again, for disturbing own council meeting
