Briefly in the news

-- Deepa Bharath

A Newport Beach business owner is one of several people charged in

connection with the alleged bribery of Colton city officials to help get

approvals for construction of large freeway billboards in Colton between

1992 and 1997.

A grand jury on Thursday indicted W. Shepardson McCook, 55, president

of Newport Beach-based Oakridge Corp. and owner of Arcturus Outdoor

Advertising Co.; San Bernardino County Supervisor Jerry Eaves, 62, who is

a former state assemblyman; Colton Councilman Donald Sanders, 43; former

Colton Mayor Karl Gaytan, 47; former Councilmen Abe Beltran, 69; and

James Bruce Grimsby, 49.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, billboard company owner

McCook gave Eaves numerous vacations that included stays for himself and

others at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas.

Prosecutors allege that in 1997 Eaves voted favorably on a proposal

that would allow Oakridge to sell some of its billboards along the San

Bernardino Freeway and the I-215 in San Bernardino County. Colton city

ordinances prohibited the construction of billboards within 500 feet of a

freeway.

In addition to conspiracy, McCook is charged with 17 counts of

bribery. Officials say conspiring to pay and receive bribes carries a

maximum of five years in federal prison.

McCook and other defendants are scheduled to appear in the U.S.

District Court for an arraignment on the charges.