Los Angeles, California
January 10, 2024
(Today's Date)
June 20, 2023
(Original Date)
* Denotes some change was made in or to the original blog, either added information or deleted information. Usually, deleted information will be indicated by the words "info deleted".
**UPDATE denotes NEW information added to the blog after the blog’s original publication
This blog is submitted and contributed as part of the War on Racial Discrimination (WRD) in California (and the United States)
In the last three weeks or so, Councilman Curren Price was charged with various offenses by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. More specifically, he has been charged with “five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three counts of perjury and two counts of conflict of interest. Several of the counts relate to Price’s wife, Del Richardson Price, and her company, Del Richardson & Associates, as it relates to business with developers, who later had projects approved with Price’s vote, and “accusations that Price failed to list income Richardson Price received on government financial disclosure forms”. And, there are charges related to Price “receiving tens of thousands of dollars in medical benefits from the city for his now wife while he was still married to another woman”.
Curren Price is Black, and he is just the latest Black City Councilmember to be prosecuted by government prosecutors (this time, the D.A.’s Office). The previous Black councilmember being Mark Ridley-Thomas of course. And, the District Court has just in the last two weeks denied Ridley-Thomas's two motions attempting to have his convictions set aside. Black Angelenos, can’t you see the writing on the wall? Black councilmembers are being plucked off the City Council, one by one. And this time, with entirely “petty” felonies, e.g., Price receiving money in medical benefits from the city for his wife while he is still legally married to another woman. A technical miscue.
The Bottomline : Price, like Ridley-Thomas, was selectively prosecuted, because he is Black, and especially, because he is a black male; and the prosecution, if successful, moves the City Council closer to an all-white one. Though the council will probably never achieve a completely all-white one, because of the majority-minority composition of the city and hopefully minority intelligence and perception, it can be a greater majority-white council, and with each minority councilmember plucked from the council, the faster that goal can be achieved.
But, the only way Black councilmembers can defeat selective prosecution is to FIGHT BACK and raise it as a defense. If they don’t, the prosecutions will continue. Ridley-Thomas didn’t fight back, so Price is prosecuted. If Price doesn’t fight back, Marqueece Harris-Dawson will probably be next. So, Price must raise the defense, not only for himself, but for those Black councilmembers coming after him. Otherwise, Price will meet the same fate as Ridley-Thomas (who likely had a stronger defense than Price will have).
But, based on Price’s statements so far, e.g., the allegations are “unwarranted charges” and that “he will prove his innocence in court”, he doesn’t plan to do much fighting. Those positions are practically the same ones Ridley-Thomas took, while refusing to fight back, and you see where they got him. So, I’m sure District Attorney George Gascon can sleep better now.
And, as for Gascon prosecuting Price, my blogposts about Gascon speak for themselves. After I initially voted for him, I changed course after discovering that he was prosecuting minorities and not prosecuting white people for the same crimes. So, I , subsequently, urged his recall. He is now continuing on that same selective prosecution course with Price. But , it doesn't appear Price will fight back. So, Gascon need not worry.
UPDATE—July 19, 2023
PRICE MOVES TO CONTINUE HIS ARRAIGNMENT
Councilman Curren Price appeared at his arraignment hearing only to request a continuance. As long as I’ve practiced law, over 25 years, I’ve yet to understand the rationale behind postponing arraignment. You are either going to plead guilty or not guilty. Why does one need more time to make that decision ? Are you thinking about pleading guilty to some charges ? To me that would be the only reason to postpone arraignment. Anyway, Price’s arraignment has been re-scheduled for August, 2023.
Apparently, Price’s arraignment is being presided over by judge Kimberly Baker Guillemet, the Black judge who has engaged in criminality herself, yet , is continuing to preside over criminal matters in the Superior Court. In my case and trial before her, she favored the government. But, luckily for Price, she will likely just conduct arraignment proceedings for him.
**UPDATE—January 9, 2024
PRICE PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO THE VARIOUS COUNTS : NOW WHAT ?
Councilman Curren Price has now officially pleaded not guilty to the various counts of embezzlement, perjury, and conflict of interest. So, where will he go from here. He continues to assert that the charges are unwarranted, and that he will prove his innocence in court. That’s essentially what ex-councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said. Thus, we wait and see how Price proceeds. The Court has already shot down at least a couple of pre-trial defenses such as statute of limitations. The next major step is to determine whether there is enough evidence for Price to stand trial.
NOTE : To my knowledge, the L.A. Times did not cover Price’s not guilty plea in its paper print edition following the not guilty plea. I wonder why ?
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