Durden Pleads Not Guilty in Rampart Case
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Suspended Los Angeles Police Officer Nino Durden on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to some of the most serious charges in the Rampart scandal--attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and filing a false police report.
Appearing briefly in a downtown courtroom, Durden wore a gray suit and spoke softly in entering his plea. He was ordered to appear again on Dec. 13 for the setting of a trial date.
Durden is the former partner of disgraced anti-gang officer Rafael Perez, who told investigators that he and Durden shot a man several times, then planted a gun and falsely testified that the man had attacked them.
That man, Javier Ovando, was sentenced to 23 years in prison based on the testimony. But in the early stages of the Rampart scandal he was freed, and is now suing the city.
On Wednesday, Durden’s attorney, Bill H. Seki, would not comment on the charges but said the election of Steve Cooley as district attorney could affect the trial.
Cooley “probably doesn’t think his office should prosecute him,” said Seki, speculating that the top prosecutor believes the LAPD and the district attorney’s office may be too close for a fair trial.
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