Senior Deputy D.A. Suspended in Alleged Shoplifting Incident

A senior deputy district attorney has been suspended for 30 days without pay after being arrested for allegedly shoplifting four ties, a pair of socks and a bottle of perfume from a Glendale department store, it was learned Thursday.

Jeffrey C. Jonas, 45, was arrested July 26 by Broadway store security guards and booked on suspicion of petty theft of goods worth $89.50, said Chief Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Gilbert I. Garcetti.

Jonas is one of three deputies who oversee the bulk of felony prosecutions in the downtown criminal courthouse.

Because the district attorney’s office declared a conflict of interest, the case was referred to the state attorney general’s office. Deputy Atty. Gen. Gary Hahn said no decision has been made on whether to prosecute Jonas.

Meanwhile, Garcetti said, Jonas began his 30 days’ suspension on Sept. 10 and was ordered to undergo psychotherapy until his psychiatrist decides to end such treatment. Jonas, a 17-year veteran prosecutor, will lose about $6,000 in wages but will not be demoted, Garcetti said.

“From all the evidence, this is truly an isolated instance,” Garcetti said.

He called Jonas “one of the most talented and dedicated prosecutors” in the office and described the arrest as “shocking to all of us.”

Garcetti said Jonas had been under a great deal of pressure because, unlike many prosecutors of his rank, he continued to try major cases while handling his administrative responsibilities and supervising 30 trial lawyers.

Both Garcetti and Jonas’ attorney, Warren L. Ettinger, said the senior deputy, who is prosecuting a capital murder case against Roberto Lopez, an alleged hit man for a large Cuban drug ring, had received death threats and had recently caught a prowler on his property.

Father of 4

In addition, the lawyers said, Jonas has four children and is very active in his church and community.

Jonas also takes a strong interest in the families of homicide victims, Garcetti said.

“He gets involved in their personal problems, in trying to assist them,” the chief prosecutor said. “He’s really overextended.”

Ettinger said he believes Jonas was “crying out for help.”

“There are just so many hours in the day that a human being can devote to his professional life, his family and his church,” Ettinger said. “Suddenly, he hears a little voice inside that says, ‘Whoa. Stop!’ ”