Orange County’s Sheriff Sandra Hutchens’ credibility has been destroyed by Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals. Meanwhile, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas stands accused of political corruption by his own senior investigators. Regional fire service also is in full crisis mode after executives at the Orange County Fire Authority apparently ousted Fire Chief Jeff Bowman against the will of rank and file firefighters.
Tag: Jailhouse Snitch Scandal
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
DA’s Monitor on Use of Informants Didn’t File Reports He Promised
Stephen G. Larson and his law firm have been paid at least $140,000 in taxpayer funds, but did not file the two reports he promised for the first half of this year. He said they weren’t required by his contract and his time was better spent working on the informant issues.
Posted inBrea, Government, Investigative, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
A Third Candidate Enters the Race for District Attorney
Former Brea Mayor Brett Murdock, a Democrat, has joined the 2018 race for District Attorney, making him the third candidate.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Report on DA’s Office Reforms on Informant Use Expected Soon
The reforms were recommended as the result of an ongoing scandal in which jailhouse informants were illegally used and relevant evidence was not provided to defense attorneys.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
No Death Penalty For Seal Beach Mass Murderer Scott Dekraai, Judge Rules
Confessed mass murderer Scott Evans Dekraai will receive life in prison after Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals Friday blocked him from receiving the death penalty.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OCDA Responds to Grand Jury Report on “Myth” of Jailhouse Informant Scandal
In an official response to the Orange County Grand Jury’s June report, which called the jailhouse informant scandal a “myth,” District Attorney Tony Rackauckas agreed with most of the report’s findings, except for those which criticized his department for a lack of training protocols and procedure.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Why Did It Take So Long for the Sheriff’s Department to Turn Over Jailhouse Informant Records?
It’s one of several questions Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals is considering before ruling Aug. 18 on whether or not confessed mass murderer Scott Evans Dekraai faces the death penalty
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Judge’s Decision on Whether Dekraai Faces Death Penalty Hinges on Credibility of OC Sheriff’s Department
Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals will announce Friday if mass murderer Scott Evans Dekraai faces the death penalty in a case that upended at least six other criminal convictions, damaged the reputations of both the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office and unveiled the “jailhouse snitch scandal.”
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Judge Set to Rule on Whether Seal Beach Mass Murderer Faces Death Penalty
Attorneys gave their final arguments at a hearing Thursday, which addresses allegations by the defense that the failure by prosecutors and the Sheriff’s Department to turn over records in the past – and the potential that they still haven’t turned over everything – suggest Dekraai won’t receive a fair penalty trial and he should be spared the death penalty.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Sheriff Hutchens Testifies At Court Hearing on Informants Scandal
She testified she believes there was no widespread misuse of jailhouse informants by her department, but sheriff’s deputies moved confidential informants in the jails to elicit incriminating statements from defendants over the course of years.
