Jury Deadlocks in Case Against Deputy
A jury deadlocked Monday over whether a decorated Orange County sheriff’s deputy tried to destroy videotapes of two on-duty confrontations he had with civilians.
Superior Court Judge James Stotler declared a mistrial in the case against George Kluchonic, who was accused of asking a civilian sheriff’s employee to delete two tapes recorded by cameras mounted on the deputy’s patrol car.
One tape was taken as he arrested a 19-year-old man after a family disturbance in San Juan Capistrano. The second showed him questioning a pedestrian about allegedly being drunk in public.
Defense attorney Tom Goethals said the deputy had joked to the civilian employee about erasing the tapes but was not serious.
Goethals said he will seek dismissal of the charges at a court hearing next month.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
