Deputy D.A. Goes Free in Theft Case

A judge dismissed a shoplifting case Thursday against a senior-level Los Angeles County prosecutor after jurors deadlocked 6-6 on a misdemeanor petty theft charge against him.

After two days of deliberations, a Glendale Municipal Court jury split evenly on the charge filed against Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeffrey C. Jonas, 46.

Judge J. D. Smith declared a mistrial, then dismissed the case, preventing the state attorney general’s office from retrying it.

Jonas was charged by the state attorney general’s office after the Broadway refused to press charges. Attorney general prosecutors routinely handle cases involving district attorney employees to avoid a conflict of interest.

Several character witnesses, including Superior Court Judge Robert Fratianne, Head Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen Kay and Burbank Police Chief Glenn Bell, testified on Jonas’ behalf.

Jonas could have been sentenced to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

He would not, however, have lost his job with the district attorney’s office, where he supervises 30 attorneys handling felony cases, officials said.

Jonas admitted to his superiors that he took the goods and was suspended for 30 days without pay shortly after the incident, Assistant Dist. Atty. Curt Livesay said when the charges were filed last October.

Livesay attributed Jonas’ behavior to stress from a high-tension job in the Central Trials Division.

District attorney officials refused comment about the dismissal.