Bonita Attorney’s Guilty Plea in Prostitution Ring Stands

A judge has refused to allow a Bonita criminal defense attorney to withdraw his guilty plea to a felony charge in connection with an alleged prostitution ring.

Municipal Court Judge William D. Mudd set a Feb. 22 sentencing for Brent Barnes, 49, who sought to void his plea bargain at his scheduled sentencing because of alleged shortcomings by his previous attorney.

“It’s clear he understands the process and techniques of legal defenses and . . . I find he not only knowingly, but very intelligently, waived his rights” in signing the plea agreement, Mudd said.

“He was an active participant in his defense throughout the process, and there’s nothing before this court to indicate he had incompetent counsel or that he didn’t know what was going on.”

Barnes, who was accused of soliciting female law clients for the alleged call-girl ring, faces up to one year in county jail for admittedly being an accessory to a felony after the fact. Two felony counts of encouraging prostitution were dismissed in return.

“I think the fact that Mr. Barnes brought this (request) so late in the game shows he does suffer from buyer’s remorse,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis said.

The Linda Vista woman accused of operating the ring, Karen Wilkining, remains a fugitive since disappearing after her August arraignment on 28 pimping and pandering charges.

Barnes was charged after making arrangements for an undercover policewoman posing as a legal client to become part of the operation.