The Daily News is reporting the LA District Attorney has rejected the case against Johnny Pride, at least as it currently stands.
Johnny Pride, a Santa Clarita city council candidate and reality-show contestant who had been arrested for the alleged rape of two 14-year-old girls, was released from custody Saturday because of “insufficient evidence,” authorities said.
The District Attorney’s office rejected the case, but Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officers plan to continue investigating in an effort to develop more evidence, according to Sgt. Dan Scott of the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau.
Pride was released from custody at 1:30 a.m. today, Scott said.
“The investigation is on-going, including further investigation into the processing of DNA evidence,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a written statement.
UPDATE:
Johnny Pride’s father, Gerry, blasted the City of Santa Clarita and the Sheriff’s Department after his son was released:
Pride could not be reached for comment Saturday. But his father, Gerry Scarpitta, a teacher living in Yuma, Ariz., said the District Attorney’s Office rejection of the case is “proof that the city of Santa Clarita is as corrupt as I thought it was.”
“They’ve deliberately been harassing my son, but this time they attacked him with the full force of their authority,” said Scarpitta, 57.
“They did this unethical, immoral thing. What they did was just unconscionably wrong; it was an abuse of power. They had him arrested and I believe they knew all along they didn’t have sufficient evidence.”
Scarpitta accused officials of having his son arrested because he had challenged the “corrupt power structure” in Santa Clarita. The father said federal or state authorities should investigate the city because it is “out of control.”
As for the two girls, Lt. Steve Whitmore said this:
“The interviews (with the girls) were quite extensive, their stories matched and when we served the search warrant, what they told us was all verified in the apartment itself,” Whitmore said. “Everything they told us was exactly the way it was, even down to some minor details. It was pretty complete, pretty exacting.”
Also, the Los Angeles Times says that the Sheriff’s Department is “waiting on results from medical examinations of the two girls.” Lt. Steve Whitmore, the main SVB man who has been talking to the media, says the Pride case is still a “pending investigation for us.”
Did someone screw up the process here?
Why on Thursday is Johnny Pride deemed such a threat that he is arrested at work and put in the slammer on half a million dollar bail just hours after a campaign function? And why after midnight on a Saturday morning is the DA saying there is insufficient evidence to try him? Why did the LASD take their case to the DA if it wasn’t fully developed yet?
Has the arraignment on Monday been canceled?
UPDATE #2:
Fox 11 LA talked with the spokesperson for th District Attorney’s Office who can’t confirm that the DA has dropped charges:
Various media outlets have reported the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges because of a lack of evidence.
However, district attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said tonight that she could not confirm reports that apparently originated with the sheriff’s department that prosecutors rejected the case.
“I absolutely cannot confirm what the sheriff’s department is reporting,” Gibbons said.
She said she got a call regarding the matter Friday and called prosecutors to confirm the report, but hasn’t heard back. She said she did not expect to have any more information before Monday, and that there was no way of knowing whether charges will be filed or not.
Okay. Let me understand this. The DNA evidence came in and exonerated Johnny Pride. But Sgt. Scott wants to continue investigating the processing of DNA evidence because he doesn’t like being wrong and wants different results?
This is absolutely scary for everyone. False reports are given to the police regularly. What protects us if we are the ones accused but the police won’t accept results but insists and intimidates a lab into giving the report they want!
Pride has now said that he did not and does not know the girls he was alleged to have assaulted, that there were never 14 year old girls in his home, and that others often have access to his cell phone for calls. Indeed, many of us do let others use our phones. The police now say that there is “insufficient evidence” (read that as NO credible evidence) with which to hold him.
When does innocent actually mean innocent???
AND, WHERE’S THE APOLOGY? Still willing to condemn an innocent man?
Hmmmm. Well the LASD SVU or the DA or both have some explaining to do. If JP really had sex with these girls and they are recanting for now I would advise him to withdraw from the race and take the opportunity to rabbit across state lines for about six months until the heat is off.
If JP is truly innocent and just bought beer for these girls and this is some kind of Kafka-esqe nightmare, I really feel sorry for him because his life is screwed.
Landers:
From whom are you asking an apology? For what specifically?
Mark:
Where are you reading that DNA evidence came in and exonerated Johnny Pride?
From the article, it looks as if there was “insufficient evidence” and therefore the Sheriff’s are investigating further, looking into DNA evidence.
Wouldn’t you want authorities to investigate further, too, if your daughter claimed she was raped and the guy was released a day later?
I don’t think the Sheriff’s are trying to intimidate anyone into giving the results they want. That’s an absurd statement.
DNA evidence can take weeks to come in… So I would suggest not counting your chicken before they are hatched.
As it stand the Case is a He said, They said thing. Because JP was in custody they had to have charges against him to hold him.
Since the DNA has yet to come in… they have to either gamble that the clothes they sent to the lab will have JP’s DNA on them or wait till they have the DNA evidence in hand which would support the girls claims and be damning to JP. At the time the DA can bring charges on JP.
District Attorney’s don’t pursue cases that they can’t win. Everything depends on that DNA evidence.
MARK. He isn’t out of the woods by a long shot, I wouldn’t be so quick to demand apologies. If the DNA comes back dirty on JP you are going to look like a HUGE ASS.
I would suggest proclaiming your friends innocence and leaving it at that…
I would imagine that given the ages of the alleged victims, his DNA is evidence enough, if it’s found. We’ll see.
Olenka, look at it this way. If the tests had been positive, he would still be in custody. The sheriff is not looking into the DNA evidence, but the PROCESS of the DNA testing. They don’t trust their own lab?
Pride has said that he does not know the girls and never had 14 year old girls at his home.
Tell me this: When is innocence, innocence?
Is it “once accused, forever guilty?”
And NickelDime, I don’t have to give you an answer to that. You already know the answer. If you feel that your life’s work is to go after an innocent person, then so be it. But I stand firmly opposite you and anyone else on that.
Those are not the principles upon which the country was founded.
Tim Myers, Pride doesn’t drink. He did not buy beer for anyone. Why are you persisting? And, yes, there should be some explaining from the sheriff. But I am truly skeptical their “explanation” would be the truth here. Too many others have been unjustly arrested, held, and convicted as a result of such misconduct.
You feel sorry for him “because his life is screwed?” What have you done to rectify that wrong? Just waiting for years until the sheriff drops the investigation? This has happened and continues to happen to others. You are now the media. Take some responsibility and rise to the defense of those who need it.
“MARK. He isn’t out of the woods by a long shot, I wouldn’t be so quick to demand apologies.”
Yes, this.
And I love the ‘others use the cell phone’. So he’s not responsible for any remarks on his FB page because someone else did it. Same w/cell phone usage. Because we all get text messages for other people on our cell phones.
Maybe not a rapist. For sure he’s a tool (and a creepy one at that).
N8I, that’s not what I heard. I heard that the evidence is in and it’s negative. Why else would they be investigating procedures? And even lacking that, they do not have enough other evidence on which to hold him.
Not enough evidence to hold him is not the same as innocent. Not even close. I’ll wait for my Monday Morning quarterbacking, but he’s certainly not in the clear or even close to it.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14526098?nclick_check=1
They have more on the story… it sounds like the case is building against him.
Within the last 12 hours or so, the scholarly one, Tim Myers, virtually frog marched Johnny Pride to the gallows. Bravo to Annette for reminding all that in America you are innocent until proven guilty.
Michelle,
Thanks for that – the link in the main body of the post is also updated.
LA Daily News is the source. Contra Costa is aggregating the Daily News feed.
Kudos to the Daily News for keeping on top of this, scooping our typical local media on many of the details — especially the with Pride’s father.
What you heard was wrong. I knew last night JP was getting out today. The DNA takes weeks, they scan nearly every strand of the clothing for DNA samples.
The DNA is also done at a lab which isn’t in Santa Clarita. There is no 48 hour turn around on DNA plus those labs don’t operate on the weekend.
Right now they had soft evidence not enough to pursue charges, doesn’t mean anything YET.
Bill:
Wasn’t aware that statutory rape carried the death penalty.
I’m surprised to see most of the readers here and in comments on The Signal site so quick to crucify this person. I couldn’t care less about SCV politics so maybe a lot of you have a bone to pick with this young man that I don’t know about. But regardless, it is wrong.
I remember another young man in the mid 90′s, Hart High football star Ted Iacenda, who was accused of raping his longtime girlfriend in a Las Vegas hotel room. These charges were made in the summer between Ted’s senior year in high school, and his freshman year at USC where he had a full football scholarship. When Ted showed up on campus there were protests and banners saying “go home rapist!”. Can you imagine walking onto campus for your first day of college to that scene?
The people who actually knew Ted, and his girlfriend, knew the charges were bogus. The charges were eventually dismissed because of discrepancies in the girl’s statements. It is hard to keep your story totally straight when you are lying…it’s easy when you’re telling the truth.
Also, do I even need to remind people of the Duke lacrosse case?
I’m shocked at a lot of the comments here. Shame on the commenters who have already tried and convicted this guy.
Mehhhh. As I told Mark (right??) the other day, this is a silly internet message board and we reserve the right to judge first, apologize later.
This situation differs from the Hart High student you speak of in that JP is a man-boy who has shown some questionable thoughts and behavior in his public life (social networking and real life). With what information we know about his personal life (that he himself has provided for us), inappropriate relationships with teenagers doesn’t seem like such a stretch.
That’s all we’re sayin’
The Ted Iacenda case was almost 14 years ago. His LinkedIn profile indicates he is a coach at Alemany High School (small world) and runs a football training camp type thing.
Luckily for Ted the age of consent in Nevada is 16 and his girlfriend was 17 at the time, so when law enforcement started to doubt that the relations were not consenual they dropped the case. No such help in California with an age of consent locked at 18.
Sure the judicial system is innocent until proven guilty but if you mess with my daughter or those of my community members, I’m coming out fighting first. There aren’t enough people to stand up for what’s right. Back down now and shame on you when it happens to the next girl. That’s exactly what happens in many of these heinous crimes where people were too afraid to speak up.
If there’s an apology to be had, I’ll be the first to say I was wrong. But I say it’s our job to first and foremost protect our children.
Oh Timmy, you’re just so sensitive.
Jackie… I agree 100%. God help anyone who messes with my female family members.
What do you expect from AWESOMETOWN! Timmy’s hubris belongs in AWESOMETOWN!
From Mr. Landers, above:
How would two 14 year old girls that someone does not know have intimate knowledge of that individual’s apartment?
There is certainly smoke here, but it isn’t fully clear where the fire is.
God, that photo is just epic.
Ya know GangFang, we may not be much for words… but at least we bring the graphics.
This is my favorite part of that article.
Scarpitta accused officials of having his son arrested because he had challenged the “corrupt power structure” in Santa Clarita. The father said federal or state authorities should investigate the city because it is “out of control.”
Johnny Pride’s liberal use of baby oil is “out of control”.
I agree with Annette, Jake and a few others who believe that in this country you are innocent until proven guilty.
I do not know Mr. Pride, but if he is guilty, the evidence should be sufficient for the DA to bring charges against him and proceed with the case against him. If after all the evidence or lack of same has been examined and the DA doesn’t file, we should all be wondering who hates this guy badly enough to trump these terrible charges up to frame him.
Every time I hear of a case like this, I try to be careful about making judgments. I vividly remember the McMartin Preschool case where an entire family was falsely accused of child molestation. They were receiving death threats, etc. After they lost everything, their homes, business, etc trying to defend themselves against these charges it was discovered the children were coached to lie and each and every one of the charges was false. By then it was too late and they were ruined…
I think Frank Jorge is mixed up in this somehow. Time for a rally!!
Berta I am pretty sure JP flashed some kind of gang sign when he passed the rally last week. Go Get’em!
NickelDime, JP shares his apartment with a roommate.
Yeah and how many of you swore the Duke Lacrosse players were guilty?
(Tim still does)
Notwithstanding the fact that JP was not charged and is currently (officially) considered by the authorities to be as innocent as everyone posting on this board, if I were his attorney, and if he is re-arrested, I would definitely move for a change of venue for the trial. The Awesometown (quotes no longer deemed necessary) jury pool has already made up it’s collective mind.
Good to know ya’ll…..
FWIW, the venue wouldn’t be Santa Clarita anyway, but probably San Fernando.
Don’t you have a shot to pull? ;.)
Is it just me, or does anyone else think “Jersey Shore” when they see all these pictures of Johnny Pride. And that name! How did MTV not pick up this guy for their show?
ND or Jeff,
Please save all of the above comments of those who have this blind faith and support for this child molester. In a few weeks, the test results will be in, new charges will be filed, and JP will be re-arrested to stand trial. I will be interested to watch the crow eating fest once this occurs.
Scott: Please do not lump us all in with these other yahoo’s who rant on and on about free speech etc but using THEIR right to free speech are quick to condemn without allowing for due process. I neither believe him innocent or guilty. I am not in a position to know all of the facts in this case. We have a legal system, which requires due process. Are there mistakes made both regarding the innocent and the guilty, yes. I will wait to make ANY judgment until Mr. Pride has been afforded all of the protections granted by our judicial system. The investigation must run its course and more information will become available as the detectives do their work to either exonerate or provide sufficient evidence for the DA to file charges.
Jack, who (other than someone who appears to be a friend of his) is actually supporting JP?
Scott, Based on the comments of shotty investigation, he’s innocent or frame up conspiracy theorist, I’ll go with Mark L., Jake and Bertha.
If this allegation involved some poor Hispanic, some of the above would be screaming for his head and the SOS & Minutemen crowd to come back to Santa Clarita for his lynching.
Olenka says: March 6, 2010 at 10:30 pm
This is my favorite part of that article.
Scarpitta accused officials of having his son arrested because he had challenged the “corrupt power structure” in Santa Clarita. The father said federal or state authorities should investigate the city because it is “out of control.”
Indeed, Olenka! Corrupt as it is in this Awesometown….. It takes someone who has nothing to lose to join the city council for some balance. I think young JP type would fit in well. It is that bad the even the young ones like JP wanted to make a change, Isn’t it?
Despite the scandals of this young man’s personal life, he is a big supporter of small business owners. His ideas could, would have helped this town. Alas!
Wait and see another regime of “corrupt power structure” in Santa Clarita repeating itself…Nothing will change.
This massage boards goes on….people talk the talk…..
Hey Don, Bet you wouldn’t be saying that if JP was Hispanic huh… Maybe you can refresh my memory on what you were saying about Hispanic people and civilizations again?
Hey Blazer, what do you have against Hispanics? Why insert race into this issue… hmmmm?
Hey Billy Bob why are you wasting your twilight years trolling a blog…?
Here are some of Don’s comments in “Anti-Illegal Roadshow back for more, with Kellar as the headline act” which were removed by site admin.
————————–>
—”Mexicans are a sub race that is not capable of creating or maintaining advanced civilization. They are third world savages who are transforming American cities into filthy stinking third world slums. No community has ever been uplifted or improved by their presence.”
—”I’m still waiting for you to name a single community, a single school district or anything else that has been improved by the presence of filthy stinking Mexicans.”
—”Of course I’m going to wait a long time, and not just because you’re too dumb to do research or debate. There are NO COMMUNITIES that have been improved or uplifted by the presence of filthy stinking Mexican”
————————–>
Just so you know BIlly Bob… I don’t want to hear from a guy that thinks “filthy stinking Mexican” do nothing for a society. He cowardly made these comments weeks after the blog was written.
Hey Don if you going to be a racist have the balls to be upfront about it.
BTW – Bill what conservative Juggernaut educational institute did you go to that you have the balls to criticize another persons education.
Blazer, I have a duty to society to help straighten out wet-behind-the-ears young whipper snappers such as yourself. Blazer, I retired at age 55 because I was financially able… try predicting your age of retirement.
You should work you public speaking so you do have to read it off a paper.
Where did you go to school again?
Blazingmonk
Judging from your last post, you might need the education, not BR.
BR, this guy must be dependent on Social Security! Therefore,retirement may never be in the cards for Blazingmonk!
Good to know I am right where I wanna be… right under Cash and Bill’s skin.
Jack: Mark L is the one who I would suspect is a friend or acquantence of JP, so I can give a pass to his advocacy.
Both Berta and Jake (and myself) are simply saying, let justice take it’s course before you run him out of town on a rail or in the press. Nothing more, nothing less.
If, after due process, he’s found guilty, let the hammer drop. If this crime occured, I’ll be right there cheering for the maximum sentence. I suspect Berta and Jake will be there too.
I don’t expect to eat crow if it ends as you suspect it might. Because I never defended the guy . . I defended the system. And if the system itself appears not to have worked after all is said and done, I reserve the right to then complain about the system. Until then . . .
Scott: I am in complete agreement with your above statement!
I agree with Scott too. Its unfortunate he’s being tried in the public eye on these websites without true facts yet.
Hey Blazer, you have a looong way to go before you are under my skin. Try taking a few writing classes, boy. Ha!
Whatever you say Bill…
You still haven’t answered my question, You went to school where?
Lets see… it’s just been sooo long. Ah yes… Pendlehill. That’s it!