Judge Clears D.A.’s Aide of Charges

A Riverside County Superior Court judge on Wednesday dismissed perjury and domestic-violence charges against a senior investigator for the district attorney.

Judge Gordon R. Burkhart ruled at the end of a preliminary hearing that the state attorney general’s office had failed to produce sufficient evidence against Luis “Tito” Bolanos.

Deputy Atty. Gen. Michael Murphy said the decision by Bolanos’ former wife not to testify significantly weakened the case. Jolie Bolanos invoked her 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination when her former husband’s attorney cross-examined her Tuesday, leading the judge to dismiss the domestic-violence count.

Jolie Bolanos alleged that her husband had bruised her arms in a September 2004 confrontation, then proceeded to make false statements to win a restraining order against her and have her removed from the couple’s home in Cathedral City.

Luis Bolanos was fired as a result of the charges filed against him in July, but he has the right to appeal to regain his job, according to the Riverside County district attorney’s office.