Local News in Brief : Santa Ana : Paduano Loses Right to Act as Own Counsel

A Superior Court judge Wednesday ruled that Robert G. Paduano cannot act as his own lawyer to fight a 71-count extortion and drug-trafficking indictment, drastically reducing Paduano’s privileges at County Jail.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Christopher J. Evans told Judge David O. Carter that Paduano’s “pro per” privileges give him such broad powers at the jail that “he could run a small business there.” Carter agreed that Paduano, who also is represented by court-appointed counsel, does not need to join in his own legal representation.

Prosecutors believe that many defendants ask to represent themselves in what is called pro per defense only because it allows them extra privileges within the jail. Inmates who use this defense are permitted almost unlimited visitors at any hour and are permitted to make exchanges with visitors who are supposedly there for legal business. They are also permitted broader use of the telephone than most inmates.

Paduano, a Newport Beach resident, is represented by Santa Ana attorney John D. Barnett. Paduano had been granted pro per status a few weeks ago in a court order that Evans said the district attorney’s office did not know about.

Paduano, 44, is accused of robbing small-time drug dealers to force them to work for him and expand his drug empire. Paduano, who is in the mortgage business, claims that he is being framed by these admitted cocaine dealers.