New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Todd Spitzer

The OCDA says the recent violent hazing incident at Mater Dei was not a crime

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Education, OCDA, Sports, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued the following statement:

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office does not normally comment on investigations involving juveniles. However, the facts surrounding the situation that occurred in a Mater Dei High School boys’ locker room involving two teenage football players has been so erroneously reported by the media we have no choice but to correct the record and provide the accurate facts.

Neither player involved in this fight was made to participate against their will. Other players in the locker room were seen milling around, playing on their phones, and largely uninterested in the punches being thrown by two of their teammates. The participants knew they were being filmed and they started throwing punches. Some punches landed; others did not, but it is unequivocally clear that both participants attempted to land as many punches as possible.

There is not a single shred of evidence to show that this was anything other than a mutual combat situation with two willing participants who traded blow for blow, including repeated punches to each other’s heads.

That does not make it acceptable. But it is not a crime.

At no time did one of the players in the fight tell the other player to stop, even when the punches became head shots and attempted head shots. When another player said stop, both players stopped throwing punches.

Two boys on the Mater Dei football team engaged in behavior that betrays the values of youth sports. CIF, the governing body of high school sports in California, has the motto “Dedicated to developing student-athletes of character.”

What happened in the Mater Dei locker room on February 4, 2021 is nothing anyone should be proud of and it falls short of the kind of character any of us should wish for our children.

This incident has been thoroughly investigated by law enforcement and reviewed blow by blow by the most experienced prosecutors in my office to see if we could prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

We cannot.

Schools must remain safe places for our children to thrive and learn – and to develop the character that we want to see in all of our children. Watching two children trade blow for blow in a locker room environment should be unsettling for everyone. It was for me.

And as the elected District Attorney of Orange County, I have and will continue to protect our children from harm. The safety of our children is all of our responsibility.

At this point, there is no evidence of hazing or any other crime that we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

As the Orange County District Attorney, I have and continue to be willing to review any and all information related to this incident and any incident involving potential hazing in our schools. Hazing in any form is unacceptable and if I can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that anyone – whether a player, a coach, or a school administrator – has engaged in or condoned hazing, I will hold them accountable.

The OCDA receives $1.9M in grants to combat DUIs

Posted on November 16, 2021 by Editor Posted in Alcohol, California, Crime, Drugs, OCDA, Todd Spitzer 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is proud to announce that it has been chosen by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to continue serving as the statewide traffic safety training agency in an ongoing effort to combat drugged and drunk driving across California.

OTS has awarded the OCDA two grants totaling $1.9 million in order to fund the office’s Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program, which dedicates eight prosecutors and one investigator to prosecuting drugged and drunk driving cases, as well as continue the California Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) Training Network, which trains California law enforcement and prosecutors on how to effectively prosecute driving under the influence cases.

Unfortunately, the number of drug-impaired driving cases investigated and prosecuted across California has increased in the wake of the state’s 2016 decriminalization of marijuana.

“Preventing drunk and drugged driving has been a top priority for me throughout my entire career and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office continues to lead the way in training our law enforcement partners to effectively investigate and prosecute impaired drivers,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The injuries and deaths caused by drunk and drugged drivers are completely preventable and we as a society must continue to do everything we can to prevent impaired drivers from ever getting behind the wheel in order to save lives. As a member of the State Assembly, I authored the Steve Ambriz Act to require every Californian who applies for a driver’s license to sign a form that states he or she has been advised that being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, impairs the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and if they do so anyway and someone is killed, they can be charged with murder. These grant dollars from the California Office of Traffic will help to make our roadways safer and save innocent lives.”

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has taken the statewide lead in providing police officers and prosecutors with cutting edge training to hold drugged and drunk drivers accountable and make California streets safer.

OCDA was awarded $1,111,504 for the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program and $833,392 for the California Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Training Network.

In 2011, OCDA developed a multi-agency collaborative driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) prosecution, investigation and toxicology model which has served as the innovative foundation to develop a statewide program.

In October 2016, OCDA expanded its traffic safety training role to the Southern California region, serving as the lead agency in prosecution and law enforcement training. This includes the delivery of live trainings, roundtables, training videos, and legal updates. In 2017, OCDA began to develop a statewide training program through its administration of the TSRP Training Network. As part of this process, OCDA has begun to align law enforcement and prosecution agencies throughout the state to create a massive statewide training, resource and education network. This responsibility offers agencies throughout the state the opportunity to share expertise in the area of traffic safety as the OCDA works in partnership to proactively investigate and prosecute traffic related crimes, increasing public safety in all jurisdictions throughout California.

During the 2020 grant year, despite the challenges confronted due to the travel and gathering limitations caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, our TSRP team conducted more than 60 trainings to prosecutors, peace officers, toxicologists, community members, and policymakers about the dangers, investigation, and prosecution of driving under the influence of drugs.

As part of these OTS grants, OCDA maintains eight vertical DUID prosecutors assigned throughout Orange County. These deputy district attorneys review, file and prosecute nearly all drug-impaired driving cases filed in Orange County. Additionally, OTS has provided funds for a full-time drug recognition expert who will be available to the Orange County DUID vertical prosecutors for training, consultation, and courtroom testimony.

Collectively in the 2021 grant year, OCDA prosecutors filed charges on more than 850 DUID and combination cases submitted by police agencies and secured more than 300 convictions in DUID and combination cases.

This year, the eight prosecutors assigned to the program are Deputy District Attorneys Mike Paone and Keegan Lund of Central Justice Center, George Smith and Ryan Ramos of West Justice Center, Michael Briante and Dustin Rice of Harbor Justice Center, and Caitlin Harrington and Shabnum Azizi of North Justice Center.

The Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program grant is overseen by Assistant District Attorneys Suzie Price and Brock Zimmon. The TSRP Training Network grant is under the supervision of Senior Assistant District Attorney Keith Bogardus and Assistant District Attorney Brock Zimmon. The TSRP team consists of Deputy District Attorneys Hoon Chang and Gaganjot Batth and OCDA Investigator Eric Franke.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

O.C. drug dealers can now face murder charges when someone dies from fentanyl poisoning

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Drugs, OCDA, Orange County, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced today his prosecutors will now be able to charge convicted drug dealers with murder if they manufacture or sell drugs, including fentanyl, and someone dies as a result. District Attorney Spitzer was joined by Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Deputy Special Agent in Charge Curt Fallin along with a coalition of law enforcement leaders and grieving parents who have lost children to fentanyl poisoning to announce the change in how drug-related deaths will be handled by California’s third-largest prosecutor’s office as well as law enforcement agencies across Orange County.

Fentanyl deaths have skyrocketed across the United States over the last few years, with Orange County experiencing a 1,000% increase over the last five years as a result of an increase in fentanyl being sold under the guise of other less potent drugs. Statewide, fentanyl deaths have increased 1,513%.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is currently prosecuting seven fentanyl-related murder cases.

Fentanyl is reportedly 60 to 100 times more potent than morphine and some fentanyl analogues may be as much as 10,000 times more potent. A mere two milligrams of these substances may be deadly.

“These are not overdoses. These are murders,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “These dealers are essentially handing a loaded gun to unsuspecting victims knowing that they will probably die and they don’t care. Fentanyl is cheap, it’s easy to get, and it’s killing people who had no idea they were taking it. I refuse to let these drug dealers get away with murder. No parent should have to pick out their child’s casket or think about what their headstone should read. Many of these teenagers and very young people are dying because they thought they were buying drugs to ease anxiety and instead drug dealers sold them a fatal dose of fentanyl. Not a single drug on the street should be considered safe. It only takes one pill. One time.”

To confront this deadly epidemic, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are also taking proactive measures to educate and prosecute drug offenders who have or may traffic substances contaminated with Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has adopted a policy to administer an advisement in qualifying cases to educate offenders about the dangers of Fentanyl and related substances.

Defendants convicted of a variety of drug-related charges, including possession for sale of cocaine, heroin and opiates which most commonly contain Fentanyl, loitering to commit a controlled substance offense, and transportation of a controlled substance for sale, will be advised of the dangers of controlled substances and if they commit a drug-related crime again and someone dies as a result they can be charged with murder.

The advisement is similar to the Watson advisement which California law requires be given to drivers convicted of driving under drugs or alcohol that warns that if the driver drives under the influence again and kills someone, they can be charged with murder.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature rejected SB 350 which would have made controlled substance advisement a state law requirement. Without that requirement in place, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is joining several other District Attorney’s Office across California in doing what the Legislature has failed to do—protect victims in our county.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is also working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and police departments across Orange County to formally warn drug dealers and manufacturers of the deadly consequences of fentanyl and other controlled substances at the time of their arrest. This advisement will also allow prosecutors to consider additional charging options for repeat drug dealers in the event someone dies as a result of their actions. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and every single police department in Orange County have committed to providing an advisement at the time of arrest.

“For the past five years my department has been sounding the alarm on fentanyl,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “I have sponsored legislation to address disparities in the law by increasing the penalty for those trafficking this deadly substance. Unfortunately, the majority of our legislators have not been willing to enact this commonsense proposal. In an effort to address this inaction, my department has begun issuing advisements to all those arrested for selling narcotics. The advisement states that if a dealer sells, furnishes, or distributes drugs to someone, and that person dies as a result of using the drugs, they can be charged with murder. The gravity of this advisement makes clear that those engaged in furthering the drug epidemic will face consequence for their careless treatment of life.”

Fentanyl and its analogues are regularly used in drug-trafficking due to their low cost and potency. They often lead to deadly consequences.

“These drug dealers, these purveyors of death, are well aware of the poison they are handing out to your friends, your neighbors, your children, your children’s friends — your family,” said Matt Capelouto, whose 20-year-old daughter died from fentanyl poisoning two days before Christmas 2019. “They make a conscious decision to sell a potentially life-ending, fake pill to a human being without regard for the repercussions. We have the opportunity to create real accountability for the actions of drug dealers that are literally murdering thousands of Americans.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people under the age of 50 are more likely to die from drugs than any other cause including heart disease and cancer. Many of these deaths are young people who believed they were taking drugs like Oxycontin, Xanax and Percocet and instead were unknowingly supplied a fatal dose of fentanyl.

“These drug dealers are preying on unsuspecting individuals and filling their pockets with cash, while families are left with the devastating consequences,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Deputy Special Agent in Charge Curt Fallin. “Fentanyl overdoses have ripped through communities not just in Orange County, but nationwide. We are committed to doing everything we can to save lives and stop the deadly surge of drug overdoses. In the meantime, I hope that Californians will spread the word that one pill can kill.”

Woke OCDA candidate Pete Hardin is an L.A. resident and he was caught trashing O.C. voters

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Editor Posted in 2022 Elections, Elections, OCDA, Orange County, Pete Hardin, Politics, Todd Spitzer 7 Comments

(ORANGE COUNTY, CA) – Criminal attorney Pete Hardin was recently caught on tape insulting Orange County and its voters, calling them the “ugly stepchild” to Los Angeles.

In addition to the derogatory comments about Orange County, Hardin can also be heard bragging about his plans to buy the election with the help of millions of dollars from the same billionaires and Super PACs that propelled George Gascon to office in Los Angeles, and Chesa Boudin in San Francisco.

The cherry on top is found in Hardin’s official campaign filing documents, which reveal he is a resident of Los Angeles County.

Hardin’s comments and residency shine a spotlight on his brazen attempt to parachute into Orange County, a community he looks down on with disdain, to install the same woke version of criminal justice reform that has failed so miserably in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“These chilling tapes make clear that Pete Hardin wants to destroy public safety in Orange County by buying this election and implementing the same radical, pro-criminal agenda that has been an unmitigated disaster in places like Los Angeles,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

“The woke criminal justice movement represents an existential threat to our community, and I am going to do everything in my power to keep Hardin and his billionaire buddies the hell out of Orange County,” Spitzer continued.

The audio, along with the below quotes, can be heard in the latest ad from Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s reelect campaign: https://vimeo.com/604283647

Criminal attorney Pete Hardin on Orange County:

“A lot of our brothers and sisters, uh, Angelenos, uh, sort of think of us as the ugly stepchild perhaps.”

Criminal attorney Pete Hardin on buying the election:

“There are all these groups across the country that are interested in criminal justice reform, Real Justice PAC, Smart Justice California, Courage California, I’ve met with all of them, developed relationships with all of them, they’re extremely interested in this campaign…But some of them are big PACs that can put a lot of money into a race. You know if we can raise a million dollars, great, we’ll do everything we can. But that might be chump change compared to what some of these outside groups can bring in.”

Criminal attorney Pete Hardin’s official campaign filings:

About Todd

Todd Spitzer has dedicated his life to keeping families safe and was inspired to dedicate his career to public service as an Orange County Supervisor, former California State Assembly Member, and now as the Orange County District Attorney. A champion for public safety, District Attorney Spitzer is recognized as an expert on security issues, whose reputation as an advocate for victims’ rights is respected nationally. Spitzer chaired the ground-breaking campaign for Proposition 9, Marsy’s Law, the nation’s most comprehensive Victim’s Bill of Rights, and served as State Co-Chair for Proposition 83, the nation’s toughest sex offender punishment and control law as well as Proposition 69, which requires the collection of DNA samples from all felons.

Fighting to protect our community, he joint-authored Megan’s Law on the Internet, the landmark legislation requiring the release of public information related to sex offenders and as a former deputy and assistant district attorney he handled complex criminal matters while managing line prosecutors. As Third District Supervisor, he secured Orange County’s first year-round, supportive housing shelter for the homeless, established an Ethics Commission, gained passage of pension reform measures, and strengthened public safety oversight by expanding the Office of Independent Review.

Spitzer earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA (1982), a master’s degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley (1989), and a Law Degree from UC Hastings School of Law (1989). While at Hastings, Spitzer was awarded the George Moscone Fellowship, for the law student dedicating his career to public service. Spitzer is a former high school teacher and reserve police officer assigned to DUI enforcement and patrol duties. He is a doting father of a son and daughter and a dedicated husband to Judge Jamie Spitzer, Associate Chief Judge for the South, Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Hate crimes have increased under OCDA Spitzer

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Hate, OCDA, Pete Hardin, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer 9 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY – Today, the Orange County Human Relations Commission released their 2020 hate crime report, which reveals a lethal rise in hate crimes across the county. Former Marine Corps officer, Deputy District Attorney, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Pete Hardin, who is a candidate for Orange County District Attorney, released the following statement:

“Today’s shocking hate crime report is a painful reminder that far right extremism has been emboldened by the Trump Presidency and District Attorney Todd Spitzer, an unapologetic Trump Republican. Spitzer has failed to keep the most vulnerable members of our community safe, as is evidenced by the 1800% rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, 114% rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes, and 23% rise in anti-Black hate crimes.

“I stand in solidarity with the AAPI community, Black community, Jewish community, Latino community, LGBTQ community, Muslim community, and Arab community, which have experienced a dramatic rise in hate driven incidents. This is unconscionable and must be stopped.

“Over the course of his 25-year career as a right-wing politician, District Attorney Todd Spitzer has regularly promoted policies that harm our most vulnerable communities. Spitzer has neither the skill nor the conviction to adequately address the extreme rise in hate we are witnessing.

“Orange County deserves a top prosecutor who will work in partnership with vulnerable communities to stamp out hate in our communities, prevent hate crimes from happening, and ensure hate crime investigations and prosecutions are pursued vigorously. It’s time for a district attorney who will stand up for all victims and take a firm stand against hate in our community.”

Current Orange County District Attorney Republican Todd Spitzer’s tenure has been defined by scandal. Four women in Spitzer’s office have filed claims asserting Spitzer promoted an employee and close friend despite having been made aware of the sexual harassment complaints against him. Spitzer later allowed the employee, who was the best man at his wedding, to retire with top flight benefits. Spitzer also attempted to drop sexual assault charges against high-profile defendants, leading a judge to remove him from the case. Survivors of the sexual assault survivors were “dragged through the mud” and “grossly mistreated” by Spitzer for two and a half years, leading two of them to abandon their case.

Spitzer has been involved in an evidence booking scandal, a jailhouse informant scandal, and has defamed a victim of OC’s deadliest mass shooting as retaliation for peaceful protest. Spitzer has also defended a DNA collection program known informally as “Spit and Acquit” that coerces defendants to give up their DNA to law enforcement, a practice the ACLU has called “unconstitutional.”

Pete Hardin is a former Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, Deputy District Attorney, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and one of Southern California’s leading litigators running for Orange County District Attorney. Pete entered public service when, in 2005, he earned his commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. A combat veteran, Pete served in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012 as a member of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Pete is a member of the Democratic Party.

Orange County’s rapidly changing electorate has led Democrats to now outnumber Republicans in Orange County holding a 4.1% voter registration advantage.

OCDA Spitzer claims his opponent is guilty of adultery and resigned from the Marines in lieu of a court martial

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Editor Posted in 2021 Elections, OCDA, Pete Hardin, Politics, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer 4 Comments

(ORANGE COUNTY, CA) – Criminal attorney Pete Hardin was charged with adultery by the Marines, among other charges, and was eventually allowed to resign in lieu of a court martial according to military corruption whistleblowers.

The claims about Hardin first appeared in a military corruption news site on May 6, 2021. At that time, the author explicitly gave Hardin the opportunity to respond to the claims and offered to correct the record if any of the information was inaccurate.

Since then, Hardin has failed to respond to those allegations or deny any of the other specific claims.

In addition to charges Hardin faced in the Marines, numerous other seriously troubling claims about Hardin appear in the news site. Orange County voters deserve to know the truth about who Pete Hardin is, and what he has done.

“It appears the same individual who is trying to parachute into Orange County and turn us into Los Angeles may also have some serious moral character flaws, or worse,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

“The whistleblower allegations are consistent with what has been shared with me directly by individuals who worked with Pete Hardin while he was on probation at the DA’s office,” Spitzer continued. “Hardin resigned from his position in 2014, shortly after admitting some of these allegations to his colleagues.”

“Hardin doesn’t belong within 1,000 feet of a school, let alone the District Attorney’s office, if these allegations are true. I am calling on Pete Hardin to come clean and tell us the truth about his past and these very serious claims,” Spitzer concluded.

About Todd

OCDA Spitzer says the voters don’t want a “woke” DA

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Editor Posted in 2021 Elections, Elections, Politics, Todd Spitzer 1 Comment

(ORANGE COUNTY, CA) – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced his campaign committee has raised $790,000 as of the June 30 reporting deadline.

The total raised included contributions from 667 individual donors and was $416,496.58 greater than Spitzer’s next closest opponent. The campaign reported $547,373.35 cash on hand.

As Orange County residents look across the county line to Los Angeles, and other major cities around the country, they are becoming increasingly alarmed by the rising crime, murders, rapes, robberies, and brazen illegal acts being committed in broad daylight.

One of the common underlying factors in areas experiencing out-of-control crime: radical district attorneys, including George Gascon and Chesa Boudin, who have turned the criminal justice system upside down and refuse to hold criminals accountable.

The same anti-public safety movement that propelled Gascon and Boudin into office in Los Angeles and San Francisco has now set its sights on Orange County, and residents are responding with overwhelming support for District Attorney Spitzer and the job he has done protecting Orange County during his first term in office.

As the District Attorney of Orange County, Spitzer has prioritized public safety, stood up for victims, put violent criminals behind bars, and pursued common sense reforms to make the criminal justice system more transparent and accountable.

“I am extremely grateful for the support, and so proud of my fellow neighbors for standing up and fighting back to keep Orange County safe,” said District Attorney Spitzer. “Only a fool would look at the rising crime, rampant homelessness, and deterioration of quality of life in places like Los Angeles and say, ‘gee, we should make Orange County more like that!’”

“Nearly 70% of my opponent’s donors are from outside of Orange County, and he has made it abundantly clear he thinks he can buy this election with the help of the same woke billionaires who have propped up radical, pro-criminal District Attorneys around the country. My opponent has no business coming within 1000 feet of the DA’s office – he is not the person he portrays himself to be, and he will be exposed,” Spitzer concluded.

About Todd

OCDA Spitzer has been blowing off the meetings of the OC Commission to end Homelessness

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Editor Posted in 2021 Elections, homeless, OCDA, Pete Hardin, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA – Today, Pete Hardin’s campaign for Orange County District Attorney released the following statement in response to District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s absence from the Commission to End Homelessness’ July meeting, despite his status as a voting member. The commission has cancelled more than half of its scheduled meetings since 2020, with Spitzer having only attended two of the meetings that took place.

“This is an office whose leader continues to employ 40- and 50-year-old techniques to crime that have been shown to exacerbate behavioral health conditions and their nexus to homelessness,” said former Marine Judge Advocate Pete Hardin. “Orange County’s DA can’t be bothered to even show up to work collaboratively to address this issue, so it’s really no surprise that homelessness and crime have continued to climb on his watch.”

“The Commission to End Homelessness should begin inviting the media to its meetings to incentivize TV Todd to show up, as the deteriorating conditions on our streets have proven to be an insufficient motivator. Orange County needs a DA that is willing to put the work in and lead on this issue. We must break the cycle of low-level offending behavior that churns people through our jails and back to our streets. Todd Spitzer’s approach is to ignore it.”

Orange County’s rapidly changing electorate has led Democrats to now outnumber Republicans in Orange County holding a 4.1% voter registration advantage.

The OCDA says Aiden Leo’s killer has 24 hours to turn himself in

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Don Wagner, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

(Orange, California) – Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner and Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer held a press conference today urging the public come forward with information about the people responsible for shooting 6-year-old Aiden Leos to death while his mother drove him to kindergarten last Friday.

Rewards can work to bring justice to victims. Supervisor Wagner was the first to match the family’s reward of $50,000, which spurred action from the Board of Supervisors and our community to add to the reward money. A reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of Aiden’s killer is now at $310,000.

Anyone driving northbound on the 55 freeway between the 22 freeway and Chapman Avenue between 7:55 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. on Friday, May 21, 2021 is asked to contact the California Highway Patrol with any tips or videos: santaanatipline@chp.ca.gov or call 800-Tell-CHP.

“This crime ripped our community apart and we are putting it back together as we collectively seek justice for Aiden. If you are out there and know something, please come forward by contacting the CHP. While there is a reward, we encourage the suspects to step forward because it is the right thing to do,” said Supervisor Wagner.

Aiden’s 16-year-old sister Alexis Cloonan is a remarkable young woman who wants justice served for her brother. “Thank you for all the support, on behalf of my mother. We can have a funeral as beautiful as he is; we are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support. If you have any information, please step forward, my brother deserves justice,” said Cloonan.

District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued a strong message to Aiden’s killer and the getaway driver: “You have 24 hours to turn yourself in. I am running out of patience. I’ve been putting people behind bars for over 32 years and we will get justice for the murder of your [Alexis’] brother. We are not supposed to bury our children.”

Billy Skeffington, who owns Watson’s Soda Fountain where today’s press conference was held, has helped raise more than $50,000 to find Aiden’s killer. “Our hearts go out to the family; we are getting phone calls from the community for more money. Please whoever did this…turn yourself in. We want this person off the streets so this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” said Skeffington. Mario Marovic, the owner of Lounge Group, has also pledged money towards putting the suspects behind bars.

OCDA Spitzer joins a legal challenge against the early release of 76,000 State prison inmates

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Editor Posted in California, Crime, OCDA, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer joined 43 elected District Attorneys across California today in filing a civil lawsuit to invalidate emergency regulations adopted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to increase “good time credits” that would allow nearly 76,000 state prisoners, including murderers and other violent offenders, to be released early.

The additional credits were the product of “emergency” regulations which were passed and first made public on Friday April 30, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. In adopting these regulations, and claiming an emergency, the CDCR Secretary stated these regulations were necessary to comply with “the direction outlined in the Governor’s Budget Summary” presented a year ago on May 14, 2020. By invoking an emergency, the traditional regulatory scheme and transparent public comment period was bypassed.

This lawsuit, filed in Sacramento Superior Court, is asking the Court to declare the regulations unlawful and to prohibit CDCR from awarding these additional credits until CDCR lawfully complies with the regulatory scheme, which would include a transparent and rigorous public comment period.

“As the former chairman of the state Assembly committee overseeing our prisons, I have seen this song and dance many times before. This nothing more than a continuing agenda to close California’s prisons and release dangerous criminals back into our communities,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “It is my job as District Attorney to keep Orange County safe. The public must be given the opportunity to question why the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation would decide that returning murderers, child molesters, and rapists back into our neighborhoods more quickly somehow constitutes an emergency. It is unconscionable that these regulations were adopted without concern for the victims who have suffered at the hands of violent offenders or concern for public safety.”

Read the lawsuit here.

OCDA Todd Spitzer has financial ties to the defense attorney in the Robicheaux rape case

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, OCDA, Pete Hardin, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

ORANGE – Today, former Marine Judge Advocate Pete Hardin released the following statement in the wake of major developments in the Grant Robicheaux and Casey Riley case. While the California Attorney General’s office recommended Robicheaux and Riley be charged with sexual assault and added allegations that the surgeon drugged their victim, Spitzer attempted to drop all charges against these alleged sexual predators. Orange County DA Todd Spitzer received $2,000 in 2018 from Riley’s attorney, Scott Borthwick, and recorded a $1,700 expenditure to Borthwick’s law firm in 2010.

“Sexual assault is a scourge on society. The District Attorney must listen to and protect survivors. Todd Spitzer failed that most basic duty, choosing instead to politicize this case and use the survivors as scapegoats. I commend the Attorney General for endeavoring to hold Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley accountable in the void left by our current District Attorney.

“DA Spitzer accused survivors of sexual assault of lying and actively attempted to sabotage this case. Indeed he is the first District Attorney in California history to be kicked off of a case by a judge because of his unethical treatment of survivors of sexual assault. Spitzer’s failure to hold sexual predators accountable leaves our communities at-risk.

“Amid previous allegations of pay-to-play corruption, I am deeply concerned by the documented financial ties between DA Todd Spitzer and the defense attorney in this case. This, combined with Spitzer’s creation of a culture of fear and intimidation amid sexual harassment complaints from within his office, make clear that victims of sexual violence in Orange County have no protector or advocate in District Attorney Todd Spitzer.”

Current Orange County District Attorney, Republican Todd Spitzer’s tenure has been defined by scandal. Four women in Spitzer’s office have filed claims asserting Spitzer had been told the best man at his wedding had allegedly sexually harassed District Attorney staff before Spitzer promoted him. Spitzer also attempted to drop sexual assault charges against high-profile defendants leading a judge to remove Spitzer from the case.

Orange County’s rapidly changing electorate has led Democrats to now outnumber Republicans in Orange County holding a 4.1% voter registration advantage.

The OCDA announces the creation of a new Hate Crimes Unit

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Hate, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. –The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is proud to announce the creation of its Hate Crimes Unit.

This new unit will be overseen by the office’s Special Prosecutions, an elite unit within the District Attorney’s Office dedicated to seeking justice in the highest profile cases. The Hate Crimes Unit will be dedicated to prosecuting crimes in which the perpetrators acted based on a bias against the victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or gender.

The newly created unit is staffed by three prosecutors, two investigators, and is supervised by the head of Special Prosecutions.

Since January 2019, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has prosecuted more than twice the number of hate crimes that compared to the number of hate crimes prosecuted in the previous 25 years by prior administrations.

Anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150% in 2020 in America’s major cities according to a recent analysis released by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

In addition to prosecuting hate crimes, the Hate Crimes Unit will focus on increased community education as well as training for law enforcement on how to effectively investigate hate crimes so that those cases can be successfully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Many victims of hate crimes are reluctant to report due to mistrust of law enforcement and language and cultural barriers. Community outreach and education is a critical component to ensuring those who commit hate-motivated crimes are held accountable as well as sending a strong message that hate crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“I have made the prosecution of hate crimes a centerpiece of my administration because of the devastation hate crimes cause to the individual victim as well as the entire community,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “We cannot change who we are and no one should be targeted and victimized because of who they are, how they look, or who they love. The beauty of Orange County is found in its diversity. Hate will not be tolerated here. By working to educate our communities, better training our law enforcement officers, and sending a strong message to haters that hate-motivated crimes will not be tolerated, we are preventing hate crimes from ever occurring and when they do occur we are standing up for victims and holding haters accountable.”

OCDA Spitzer confirms there was sexual harassment in his office

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Editor Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued the following statement today:

An independent outside law firm hired by the County’s CEO conducted an investigation and concluded what the Orange County District Attorney’s Office had previously uncovered and disclosed to the County: a former OCDA manager sexually harassed several female prosecutors in the office.

The independent investigation concluded that in response to learning of these allegations, the OCDA responded promptly, appropriately, and no employee was subjected to retaliation.

As soon as allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior came to our attention, we initiated an immediate investigation with OCDA HR. This fact is indisputable and is confirmed by the report.

The employee accused of harassment was immediately put on leave after an initial investigation by OCDA and consultation and direction by County HR and EEO. The employee chose to submit his resignation the same day after being placed on Administrative Leave.

I have been unequivocally clear that I never personally witnessed the alleged behavior or anything similar during my interactions with this former employee or was I ever told of any such behavior. Had I been aware of these allegations at any time, I would have taken swift and decisive action.

We can now once and for all put to rest the false perception that I or my Senior Executives had any knowledge of these disgusting acts prior to any witnesses coming forward.

I am sickened by this manager’s offensive and base behavior. No one should have to suffer in silence and these prosecutors will be protected by me and my office. I am further incensed and enraged that the manager engaged in discrimination and harassment against others.

Office-wide anti-harassment trainings of all staff and additional training for managers has been an on-going state law requirement. We have ensured that all attorneys and employees have been trained and are encouraged to report misconduct at multiple levels: to their managers, their unions, the EEO and County and OCDA HR depending on the comfort level of the employee.

I subscribe to these core beliefs and have upheld them every day of my professional career for more than three decades:

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office does not tolerate harassment of any kind in the workplace. We have and will continue to support anyone who believes he or she has been harassed.

I have an established track record of holding employees accountable regardless of any pre-existing relationship they may have with me.

Any allegation of harassment in the workplace – irrespective of the timing, potential motive, or interpersonal relationships – has and will continue to be fully and thoroughly investigated by my office.

For the last 30 years as a public servant, I have refused to tolerate harassment and racism in the workplace – and I refuse to tolerate it now. That is not rhetoric; it is a fact.

A fight broke out at a Free Tatiana protest against the OCDA in Costa Mesa

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Editor Posted in African Americans, Civil Rights, Costa Mesa, Crime, OCDA, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

Yesterday, April 29, at around 7:30 p.m., about 10 demonstrators were present at a reception for a Orange County official, in Costa Mesa. That official has been identified as Todd Spitzer, the Orange County District Attorney.

Costa Mesa police officers responded to fighting at a nearby parking lot at the 400 block of E. 17th St. The police officers made contact and took a report of assault and battery involving demonstrators and two other individuals.

A man involved in the incident was transported by Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue to a nearby hospital for treatment of what is believed to be minor injuries.

All of the parties were interviewed. No arrests were made and this is now an open investigation. No further details were released by the Costa Mesa Police Department.

The Costa Mesa Police Department Dispatch did not receive any calls from the public about this incident. Officers in the area monitoring the event observed the fight and responded immediately.

The demonstrators were apparently upset about the incarceration of Tatiana Turner and were heard to be chanting “Free Tatiana.” You can see a video of the fight here. In the video you can see a man spit on a woman at the protest.

Turner, a 40-year-old resident of Long Beach, allegedly used a four-foot rod to repeatedly beat two men who were lying on the ground after they had been attacked by protesters at a Seal Beach demonstration against police brutality in August. The attack in Seal Beach left one of the victims with injuries to his head so severe they required staples, according to the OCDA.

Prosecutors also allege Turner zapped someone with a stun gun at the same September rally in Yorba Linda where she is accused of running over two supporters of then-President Trump, who were staging a counter-protest to her “March 4 Equality” event, according to the L.A. Times.

Turner is being held on one million dollars bail.

Turner’s Long Beach-based “Caravan 4 Justice” had been organizing Black Lives Matter rallies (as well as feeding homeless and registering voters) for a year or so, when they became aware that things were getting a little rough for black folks right across the San Gabriel River in neighboring Seal Beach, that hot summer of George Floyd, according to the Orange Juice Blog. That blog reported that the two men Turner is alleged to have attacked were themselves being a nuisance and attacking demonstrators at a rally Turner was hosting in Seal Beach.

O.C. CHP officer charged with using confidential police records to help a friend

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Editor Posted in CHP, Crime, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer, Westminster 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A California Highway Patrol officer has been charged with using a department computer to illegally access a confidential law enforcement database to provide vehicle information to a friend who owned a car registration service.

Todd Steaffens, 43, has been charged with three misdemeanor counts of computer access and fraud and three misdemeanor counts of disclosing Department of Motor Vehicle information without authorization.

He faces a maximum sentence of three years in the Orange County Jail if convicted on all charges.

Steaffens has worked for the California Highway Patrol since 2007.

Between February 2020 and July 2020, Steaffens is accused of using a CHP computer at the Westminster office to unlawfully access the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS), which provides law enforcement access to national databases maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and others. Any information obtained from the system can be used for official use only.

Between February 2020 and July 2020, Steaffens is accused of accessing CLETS after receiving text messages from a friend who owns Pacific Automotive Services in Los Angeles asking the officer to run the vehicle identification numbers of different vehicles he was interested in buying. Steaffens is accused of providing that information to the owner of Pacific Automotive Services.

“This conduct of misuse of an official confidential law enforcement database to run a friend’s prospective car purchase has to be about the dumbest thing an officer can do to jeopardize his career and criminal record ,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Even minor transgressions such as these must be prosecuted because they are unlawful and still rises to the level of abuse of power.”

Steaffens is scheduled to be arraigned on April 21, 2021 at the Central Justice Center in Department C54.

Deputy District Attorney Dustin Chupurdy of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.