John Barnett

Ex-Huntington Beach Cop Admits Savage Domestic Violence In Plea Bargain

After more than a week of his criminal trial involving alarming allegations of domestic violence while he was a Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) cop, James Roberts decided it was in his best interests to admit partial guilt and seek a plea bargain this afternoon.Inside Orange County Su ... More >>

Mistrial Declared in Sexual Battery Case Against David Hung Do, Alleged Predator Physician

Looking at a deadlocked jury, an Orange County Superior Court judge in Santa Ana declared a mistrial in the sexual battery case against Dr. David Hung Do on Thursday. Judge James Stotler set a Nov. 9 status hearing and tentative February trial date in the case that accuses the 42-year-old physician ... More >>

Joseph G. Cavallo, Haidl Gang Rape Lawyer, Wins Personal Corruption Case Dismissal

It wasn't too many years ago when Joseph G. Cavallo was one of Orange County's most well-connected criminal defense lawyers. Cavallo's close, power-hungry pals included Sheriff Mike Carona as well as assistant sheriff George Jaramillo and Don Haidl.But that dream team began to collapse after Cavallo ... More >>

Is James Roberts III Shielded From Justice?

[Moxley Confidential] Huntington Beach police accused of conspiring to protect the ex-cop whose ex-wife claims he violently sodomized her

John D. Barnett Is the Attorney for the Damned

[Moxley Confidential] The veteran criminal-defense lawyer insists his cop client didn't murder Kelly Thomas

Pre-Trial Hearings For Manuel Ramos And Jay Cicinelli, Fullerton Cops Facing Charges In Kelly Thomas Killing, Continued Until Next Month

Manuel Ramos, left, and Jay Cicinelli​​This morning, Judge Erick L. Larsh continued the pre-trial hearings of two Fullerton officers facing charges in the beating death of Kelly Thomas. Last time Officer Manuel Ramos showed up at the Central Justice Center he wore a yellow jumpsuit and handcuff ... More >>

Fullerton College Student Says Cops Wrongfully Arrested Him And Beat Him Up in 2008

​At a council meeting in Fullerton last week, a man said he thought the "flood gates" of complaints against the police department had only just started. Well, it looks like he might be right.A 23-year-old Fullerton College student was allegedly arrested on false charges of public drunkenness ... More >>

Fullerton Extends Police Chief's Medical Leave Again, Reaches Tentative Settlement For Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

​Per the request of his doctor, the city has again extended Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers' medical leave. Sellers first went on leave in August, in the wake of sharp criticism for how he handled the department after the July 5 beating of Kelly Thomas. In September, Sellers' doctor as ... More >>

Officers Charged In Kelly Thomas Case Won't Be Paid

​After next week, the two Fullerton officers charged in the Kelly Thomas beating death won't be getting paid. Kevin Hamilton, Fullerton's acting police chief, announced today his intention to put Cpl. Jay Cicinelli and Officer Manuel Ramos on unpaid administrative leave on Oct. 8.In a written ... More >>

DA's Charges in Kelly Thomas Case Prompt Families of Two Long Beach Men Shot by Police to Ask for Same Results

​In the wake of Tony Rackauckas' decision to charge two on-duty policemen in the beating death of Kelly Thomas last week, families of two unarmed men who were fatally shot by Long Beach police officers within the past year are asking Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley to follow suit.Long B ... More >>

Manuel Ramos, Cop Accused of Killing Kelly Thomas, Has Continued Arraignment This Morning

​The arraignment of Fullerton Police Officer Manuel Ramos, who has been charged with murdering homeless man Kelly Thomas, was scheduled to be continuing this morning in Santa Ana.Ramos' defense attorney, John Barnett, is expected to ask Orange County Superior Court Judge Erick Larsh to reduce the ... More >>

Judge Denies Officer Manuel Ramos' Request For Lower Bail; John Barnett, Ramos' Attorney, Calls Kelly Thomas 'Violent Felon'

Officer Manuel Ramos​At the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana this morning, Fullerton policeman Manuel Ramos wore a yellow jumpsuit and sat behind a metal mesh wall separating him from everyone else in the courtroom -- including Kelly Thomas' relatives and several members of his own family.  ... More >>

[UPDATE: One Officer Charged With Second-Degree Murder, Another with Manslaughter] Kelly Thomas Killing Announcement Draws Huge Media Crowd ... and Protesters

DA T-Rack​UPDATE 11:00 a.m.: Gustavo here. Before the press conference even began, veteran attorney John Barnett (whom you'll remember helped to represent the Haidl gang) announce to reporters that his client, Fullerton Officer Manuel Ramos, had surrendered himself to face charges on second-degree ... More >>

[UPDATED with Arraignment:] Murder Charge, Counts Against 2 Cops in Kelly Thomas Beating Case

Courtesy of Orange County District Attorney's OfficeOfficer Manuel Ramos​UPDATE, SEPT 21, 4:03 P.M.: At his arraignment this afternoon, which the Weekly's Marisa Gerber attended, a handcuffed Fullerton Police Officer Manuel Ramos pleaded not guilty to felony second-degree murder and involuntary ma ... More >>

Kelly Thomas Killing Prompts DA Tony Rackauckas' Finest Moment

R. Scott MoxleyDistrict Attorney Tony Rackauckas​At 11:04 a.m. today, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas entered a heavily guarded press conference, walked to the podium without fanfare and, in front of 13 television news cameras and dozens of reporters, made history.Rackauckas announ ... More >>

Rodney King Can Just Get Along With Juror He's Marrying After Newport Beach Hook-up

RadarOnline.com​From the Strange Bedfellows File comes word that Rodney King--yes, that Rodney King--has found love with a juror who awarded him a multi-million dollar settlement in wake of the infamous 1991 beat down he took from LAPD officers.In fact, the love birds are getting married.But here' ... More >>

James Roberts III, Cop Accused of Brutally Terrorizing Wife and Girlfriend, Faces New Rape and Sodomy Charges

Courtesy of Orange County District Attorney's OfficeJames Roberts III​We noted in October that a 33-year-old Huntington Beach police officer was facing 17 felony counts of false imprisonment, threats, domestic battery, aggravated assault, dissuading a witness by force or threat and vandalism. Ja ... More >>

[Moxley Confidential] Accused Drug Dealer Walks After Deputy's Threats to Him Revealed

Major, Blankenship Win Deputy Union Vote Tonight in DA Office Battle

Blankenship wins vote of confidenceTonight's secret ballot law enforcement election (previously discussed in detail HERE) recorded a 60 percent turnout and good news for both Mike Major, acting chief of the Orange County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation, and Don Blankenship (pictured), th ... More >>

[Moxley Confidential] Police Pilots Say They Got the Pointer

Indicted Ex-Superintendent Flies Back to Never Neverland

Fleming aka Peter Pan?Almost two years after making headlines for being the highest public official to ever be indicted in Orange County (this was pre-Carona), ex-superintendent James Fleming, and indicted ex-assistant superintendent Susan McGill, walked out of the Orange County Courthouse today unf ... More >>

Officer, is that dandruff under your nostril?

It’s the last week of 2007 inside Orange County’s Central Justice Center, and the place is dead except at each of the three public entrances. A half-dozen young bailiffs have forgotten security fears (Al-Qaeda!) but collect pay and perks while they chat happily about the electronic toys they rec ... More >>

Angry Asian Rap Stalls Case

VA Tech murders give OC Sheriff pal excuse

Va Tech Murders Give OC Sheriff Pal Excuse

At the insistence of John Barnett, OC 's legendary defense lawyer, a San Bernardino County judge refused to allow opening statements Monday in the jury trial of Raymond K. Yi, a former OC reserve deputy who faces six felony charges for a 2005 gun-related temper tantrum on a golf course. Barnett, fa ... More >>

Hammer Time

Ex-Huntington Beach mayor gets prison time for condo scam first unveiled by Weekly

Bad Dads

The Haidl Gang-Rape case couldve ended years ago with better parenting

Haidl 6-6-6: Defense still victimizing the victim

Briseno called it: the defendants' claims of remorse were indeed insincere. In the morning we heard the defendants and their supporters apologize to Jane Doe and her family. They offered help. They promised to change. They took responsibility. A few hours later, before sentencing the Haidl 3, Judge ... More >>

Sex, Bribes and Jailhouse Scams

Sheriff Carona working overtime to stop reports he's a serial adulterer

The Motion for a Mistrial is Denied

UPDATED: Judge upholds Haidl gang-rape convictions, denies new trial; Cavallo fired

The Motion for a Mistrial is Denied

WEB EXCLUSIVE! Judge upholds Haidl gang-rape convictions, denies new trial; Cavallo fired

Gang-Rape Trio to Walk?

WEB EXCLUSIVE! Haidl defendants may spend mere weeks in juvenile detention

Haidl Trial Closing

Excerpts from todays closing statements in the gang-rape saga

See? No Evil

Haidl attorney John Barnett specializes in generating reasonable doubt

The Army of God

How a monk, an altar boy, and a sex-abuse victim joined forces to battle their common enemy: the Catholic Church

Slammer Time!

Huntington Beach councilwoman faces federal case

Slammer Time!

Huntington Beach councilwoman faces federal case

Justice Takes a Pool Cue

UPDATED: Assistant sheriff, OC dailies miss the irony as Haidl Three elude conviction

Justice Takes a Pool Cue

Assistant sheriff, OC dailies miss the irony as Haidl 3 elude conviction

Unreasonable Doubts?

10 ways the Haidl Three got off

Bottoms Up!

UPDATED: Doctor says alcohol played no role in Haidl gang rape, declares defendants good guys

Hung Jury?

Jurors in OC rape case at odds

Bottoms Up!

Doctor says alcohol played no role in Haidl gang-rape, declares defendants good guys

No Rest for the Wicked

UPDATED: Jury takes five, Haidl team takes a pounding

No Rest for the Wicked

Jury takes five, Haidl team takes a pounding

Inexpert Witness

Posted: May 14, 2004: On key question of video authenticity, prosecution stumbles

The Good Boys

Posted May 12, 2004

Haidl Your Daughters

"Why isn't she being charged with this crime?"

Faultless

Haidl team hits TV and newspapers to blame alcohol, porn, society, police and victim in alleged gang rape

Exhibit X-Rated

UPDATED: The Blockbuster DVD the Haidl Defense Doesnt Want You to See

Exhibit X-Rated

The Blockbuster DVD the Haidl defense doesnt want you to see