Jury Splits on Whether Deputy Tried to Have 2 Videos Erased

A jury deadlocked Monday over whether a decorated Orange County sheriff’s deputy deliberately tried to destroy videotapes of two on-duty confrontations he had with civilians.

Jurors deliberated for a day before splitting 6 to 6 on whether to convict George Kluchonic of two misdemeanors. Santa Ana Superior Court Judge James A. Stotler immediately declared a mistrial in the case against Kluchonic, who was accused of asking a civilian sheriff’s employee to erase two tapes recorded by cameras mounted on the deputy’s patrol car.

Defense attorney Tom Goethals said he will seek dismissal of the charges at a hearing next month. Prosecutor Ebrahim Baytieh could not be reached for comment.

During the 10-day trial, Baytieh portrayed Kluchonic as an out-of-control deputy who abused his position and deserved to be punished.

Baytieh accused the deputy of trying to delete a tape that showed him using force while arresting a 19-year-old man after a family disturbance in San Juan Capistrano. Kluchonic was also accused of trying to erase a tape that showed him confronting a pedestrian and questioning him about allegedly being drunk in public.

But Goethals said his client, a 15-year veteran, was a respected lawman once named deputy of the year and now the victim of a misunderstanding.

Goethals said the deputy had joked with the civilian employee about erasing the tapes but had never meant to be taken seriously.