Brockovich Case Draws Media Swarm to Court

Swarmed by reporters and TV cameras, three men accused of trying to extort money from movie subject Erin Brockovich appeared Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court for arraignment on felony charges.

But ex-husband Shawn Brown, 38, ex-boyfriend Jorg Halaby, 46, and their attorney, John Reiner, 52, declined to enter pleas to charges of conspiracy and attempted extortion.

Lawyers for the men sought a five-week postponement, saying they need additional time to review police reports, tape recordings and other evidence. Judge Art Gutierrez delayed the arraignment to June 19.

Outside the courthouse, lawyers for Brown and Halaby denied allegations that the men tried to extort about $300,000 from Brockovich, a legal investigator whose work on a landmark court case inspired a hit movie starring Julia Roberts.

“It’s a very upsetting situation,” said Los Angeles attorney Joel R. Isaacson, who represents Brown, a carpet cleaner and Simi Valley resident.

Speaking before a throng of TV cameras, Isaacson said his client never threatened to tell tabloids his ex-wife was a bad mother and never demanded money from Brockovich or her Westlake Village lawyer boss, Ed Masry.

Brown “denies the charges,” Isaacson said. “He is very scared. This is way out of his league.”

Halaby, a Costa Mesa resident portrayed as the biker boyfriend in the current release “Erin Brockovich,” is represented by attorney Sheldon L. Levitin.

Levitin denied that his client tried to extort money and criticized Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael Bradbury for appearing on a TV news magazine last week to discuss the case.

“We are going to seize the opportunity to prove our client’s innocence in court,” Levitin said. “And we’d appreciate it if Mr. Bradbury wouldn’t appear on ‘Dateline.’ ”

Media interest in Brockovich’s real-life court case was evident Wednesday. About two dozen reporters and photographers crammed the hallway outside Gutierrez’s first-floor courtroom, eagerly awaiting the defendants, who are free on $50,000 bail each.

“Access Hollywood,” a tabloid news show, and reporters from several Los Angeles stations were among the media clamoring for any details. But the person they wanted to see most, Brockovich, did not attend the arraignment.

Thousand Oaks attorney Cathleen Drury, who is representing Brockovich in a child custody dispute with Brown, said her client believes that prosecutors have a strong case and will prevail in court.

“Erin has the utmost confidence in the court system,” Drury said, “in both her personal and professional life.”

Brown, Halaby and Reiner were arrested April 26 in a videotaped law office sting at which Brockovich and Masry were present.

Authorities say Brown and Halaby demanded money and threatened to tell tabloids that Brockovich was a bad mother who had slept with her boss, accusations that Masry and his employee say are untrue.

Brockovich and Masry helped win the largest settlement in the nation’s history for a case that did not go before a jury. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. paid about $333 million to more than 600 residents of Hinkley, Calif., for the alleged pollution of the community’s ground water.