Finding that perfect match

I am looking for a non-technical co-founder to start a company with. I have created something I believe to be innovative and have a prototype ready to go. Unfortunately, I am also currently living in NYC- -and have already been burned a couple of times by NYC salesmen-types on business ventures in the past, and am also out of favor with the NYC VCs as well, due to my having been arrested on a possession of weed charge 5 years ago while I was in a car with 5 other people in the deep South—and then thrown into solitary confinement for a week due to a clerical error by my probation officer a few years back as well.

I consider these experiences to be character building but the VCs in NYC were so appalled by my mistakes and indignity that I was basically forced out of the company I founded. I am in the process of moving to California in the hopes of finding some more like-minded people to be around. However, I don't actually know anyone out there and am really just assuming this on the basis of common stereotype.

The questions I had were: do VCs on the West Coast tend to be more forgiving about these sorts of non-violent brushes with the law than other places (like NYC)? Or would partnering with someone who is a bit more clean-cut be a wise move regardless of my location? Will I likely run into the same issues I ran into in NYC in California regardless? If it is the case that VCs in California are as touchy about these sorts of things as those in NYC, where would you recommend finding someone charming/straight-edge enough to balance out my past indiscretions and unintentional affect? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!