Judge Thomas Goethals wants Sheriff Sandra Hutchens to explain in court her claim that there is no jailhouse informants program in Orange County jails.
Tag: Jailhouse Snitch Scandal
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Sheriff’s Commander Says Lack of Supervision Left Deputies Running Jailhouse Informants
Commander Jon Briggs testified Tuesday the jail house informant scandal developed because high management turnover left junior deputies with too much control, meaning “inmates were running the asylum on occasion.”
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Sheriff’s Sergeant Says He Ended Jailhouse Notes on Informants Without Reading Them
The contents of the Special Handling Log — notes kept by deputies on informants and other inmates — are at the center of a hearing which explores whether Sheriff’s Department officials withheld or shredded key documents.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Judge in Dekraai Murder Trial Defends Uncovering Sheriff and DA Misuse of Jailhouse Informants
Two more Sheriff’s Department personnel invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, raising the total number of Sheriff’s officers who have taken the fifth to four.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
DA Tony Rackauckas Defends His Prosecutors’ Handling of Informants
In a live radio interview, the DA said the rulings against his office came from “one judge” who allowed an extensive search through cases that “had nothing to do with” the trial he was presiding over.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Sheriff’s Deputies Take the Fifth During Jailhouse Snitch Hearing
Two Orange County Sheriff’s deputies, Benjamin Garcia and William Grover, invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at a court hearing Thursday rather than answer questions about their dealings with jailhouse informant records.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Argue Over Request for Federal Takeover of DA’s Office
Some supervisors criticized Todd Spitzer’s request as pointless and misguided, while Spitzer called on his colleagues to take action when they learn of corruption allegations.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Politics & Elections, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Spitzer Calls for Federal Takeover of OC District Attorney’s Office
Spitzer requested the federal takeover Monday, citing “continuing revelations of scandal” under DA Tony Rackauckas. Rackauckas’ office fired back, accusing Spitzer of using his position as county supervisor to campaign for his own run for District Attorney.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Rackauckas Tells 60 Minutes Jailhouse Snitch Scandal is a “False Narrative”
In a segment for the CBS television news program 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, OC District Attorney Tony Rackauckas called allegations that his department has a system of jailhouse informants a “false narrative.”
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Sheriff Could Be Required to Testify on Jailhouse Informants
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens could be called to testify in a hearing later this month, which will explore whether her department attempted to cover up a jailhouse informants program by intentionally destroying or withholding key discovery documents related to the case of mass murderer Scott Evans Dekraai.
