D.A. Seeks to Block Blake’s Use of P.I.

Los Angeles prosecutors have asked a judge to stop actor Robert Blake’s defense attorney from hiring an investigator they say could be a witness in Blake’s murder trial.

Prosecutors Patrick R. Dixon and Gregory A. Dohi say private investigator William C. Jordan could provide “valuable evidence tending to implicate” Blake in the fatal shooting of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, on May 4, 2001, near a Studio City restaurant.

Jordan said in an interview Wednesday that he met with Blake’s attorney Harland W. Braun for three hours last week to review the prosecution’s case against Blake.

He said prosecutors have exaggerated what his role would be as a witness. He described the information he has provided to authorities as “innocuous.”

Jordan said Blake hired him in September 2000 to do a background check on Bakley in anticipation of child custody proceedings.

Prosecutors say Jordan can testify about Blake’s plans to end his stormy marriage with Bakley and take custody of their child, Rose, now almost 2. Prosecutors say Blake called Jordan within hours of the Bakley killing, but they did not elaborate on that conversation.

In their motion filed late Tuesday, Dixon and Dohi describe Jordan’s involvement with the defense as “yet another dubious financial arrangement” between Blake and a potential prosecution witness with “the glaring potential for corruption.”

Blake is paying the lawyer representing Earle Caldwell, his bodyguard and co-defendant, and put up $1 million last month to bail Caldwell out of jail. Blake, 68, is being held without bail at Men’s Central Jail downtown.

Earlier this month, prosecutors asked Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lloyd M. Nash to remove defense attorney Arna H. Zlotnik from the case because she is being paid by Blake to represent Caldwell. Nash is expected to consider both prosecution motions at a hearing Monday.

Authorities last month charged Blake with murdering his wife, two counts of solicitation, and conspiracy. Caldwell, 46, was charged with conspiracy. Both men pleaded not guilty.

Braun said there is no legal basis for the motion pertaining to Jordan and challenged what he views as the prosecutors’ efforts to shape the defense case.

“[Dist. Atty.] Steve Cooley does not pick who the attorneys are for the defense. He does not pick who posts bail for the defendants,” Braun said. “And he’s not going to decide who our investigators are and how many investigators we have.” Braun said he hired Jordan because he is an expert in homicide cases. Before accepting the job, Jordan said he notified LAPD detectives and consulted his attorney. “In essence, they said they were not thrilled about it, but there was nothing illegal about it,” he said.