FPPC invesetigates shady anti-sheriff PAC Californians for Law and Order.

UPDATE: The California Fair Political Practices Commission last week opened a case on the PAC Californians for Law and Order. FPPC Enforcement Chief Gary Winuk confirms the FPPC opened an investigation based on its initial findings on June 23. 

The California Fair Political Practices Commission has opened a case on Californians for Law and Order, a PAC that ran a last-minute smear campaign against Sheriff Scott Miller just before the June 3 primary. 

The FPPC started looking into the political action committee, or PAC, after a story appeared in the Weekly on June 12 revealing a number of apparent filing errors in campaign finance documents. 

FPPC spokesman Jay Wierenga says the FPPC, which is responsible for enforcing the Political Reform Act, may launch an investigation depending on its findings, but is still looking into whether there is a basis for an investigation. 

Californians for Law and Order reported spending $7,570 on the negative radio, TV and printed materials against Miller. It reported raising $250 from Monterey County Assistant Public Defender Donald Landis and $2,500 from the Monterey County Public Defenders Association; Landis and members of the association believed they were contributing to a PAC involved in the judicial race between Andrew Liu, a defense attorney, and Deputy District Attorney Steve Somers. 

The PAC has not filed any paperwork yet indicating it spent money in that election. 

That initial round of funding came about from early efforts of Democratic political consultant Chris Marohn, who was working for both Liu and Somers simultaneously. Marohn, a Monterey College of Law graduate, has previously worked in county Public Defender's office. 

Marohn also managed the campaign of sheriff's candidate Mike Richards, who was fired by Miller after a long career at the sheriff's office.  

PAC spokesperson Amber Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday afternoon.