Let’s Go After Those Who Went After Baglin

Re “Laguna Beach Official Cleared,” July 11:

The jury verdict that found Laguna Beach City Councilman Wayne Baglin innocent on all six felony charges should be followed immediately by several actions.

The jury obviously believed Baglin, who had said he was entrapped. Therefore, the district attorney’s office should file criminal charges against City Manager Kenneth C. Frank and City Atty. Phil Kohn of Ruttan & Tucker.

The real motivation for breaching their sworn fiduciary responsibilities merits as thorough an investigation as that given Baglin.

If possible, when indicted, the city should not suffer the embarrassment of being forced to pay for their defense.

Both of these officials should resign, and serious consideration should be given to permanently severing ties with Kohn’s law firm.

These men were seen by the jury as unbelievable, inept and conspiratorial.

Baglin’s undoubtedly hefty legal defense bill should be voluntarily paid by Kohn’s firm and/or Laguna Beach. Otherwise, Baglin’s attorney can seek damages and recovery of fees, thus protracting the agony in courtrooms.

Other council members and city residents should also understand that the highest-paid appointed city official, the man who runs Laguna Beach on a day-to-day basis, placed an enormous cloud over City Hall, thus disrupting municipal business indefinitely.

The seeds of distrust the city manager has sown, nearly wiping out Baglin’s real estate career, decimating him morally and financially, merit a vote of no confidence from the council.

Who can put a value on Baglin’s reputation in the community or how much his business and family suffered needlessly through the vindictive mechanizations of these conspirators?

Roger von Butow

Laguna Beach