Orange County courts are especially busy this morning in light of accusations that a county clerk corruptly fixed about 1,000 cases, according to this June 19 LA Times article.
How was this discovered?
The clerk’s actions came to light when another court employee discovered an incomplete DUI case that led to a review of all cases that clerk handled, the court attorney said.
Which cases may have been affected?
The cases all involve misdemeanor charges that are either DUI or other traffic related crimes originating from throughout Orange County. It appears that the clerk provided fake plea deals and forged records, which are now being investigated by county prosecutors and the FBI.
What have investigators found out so far?
So far, officials have found that punishments weren’t effectively dealt out or if they were, significantly reduced penalties were provided. The cases that have been affected appear to have majority Latino defendants, who may have been specifically targeted and steered into a scheme that promised to resolve their cases, albeit in a fraudulent manner.
What happens now?
All of the cases are being re-examined by the courts to correct any missteps caused by the allegedly corrupt clerk. Hundreds of defendants and their attorneys have been scheduled for court hearings as a result of this investigation.
Some attorneys in Orange County have been summoned to court for defendants they have never dealt with before. It’s possible this is occurring because the schemer(s) decided to put names of actual attorneys on the forged and fraudulent paperwork to make it appear authentic.
What if I’m involved?
If you or someone you know may have been involved with the clerk’s alleged actions or any of the affected cases, make sure you contact Orange County’s top criminal defense attorney, Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm, right away.
Time is of the essence when criminal charges may be in the process of being built against you, and to ensure you get the ideal defense you need, call, email, or send an online message attorney Dan Chambers ASAP. Charges against you could be dismissed, or penalties reduced, but only if you act now.
Schedule a free appointment with expert Orange County criminal defense attorney, Dan Chambers, by contacting him today:
Phone: 714-760-4088
Email: dchambers@clfca.com
Online message: Click CONTACT at the menu above, top right
