Drunk-Driving Case Against Fire-Eating Magician Dismissed
A judge on Wednesday dismissed a drunk-driving charge against a magician who said the chemicals he used in his fire-eating act caused a false breath test reading, his attorney said.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge John P. Doyle threw out the misdemeanor charge after prosecutors asked to retry 32-year-old Randall Richman, said his attorney, Andrew Radel.
Richman’s nine-day trial at Van Nuys Courthouse ended Friday with the jury deadlocked 10 to 2 in favor of acquittal.
Richman, who now lives in Westlake Village, testified that he had just taught a fire-eating class when police pulled him over on Dec. 7, 1999, near his home in Studio City.
He registered twice the legal driving limit of 0.08% blood alcohol on two breath tests.
Last week, Richman said he was disappointed with the hung jury and vowed to defend himself in a second trial.
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