LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a criminal case against a popular Los Angeles TikTok streamer, Carlitos Ricardo Parias, asserting that his constitutional rights were violated when his lawyers were denied access while he was in immigration detention.
On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin issued a ruling dismissing the indictment, stating that Parias' rights were infringed upon as federal authorities consistently failed to facilitate visits or communications with his legal defense team, which impeded his preparation for trial. The judge noted the dismissal was with prejudice, preventing the government from refiled charges against him.
In his ruling, Olguin pointed out that the situation arose from the government's lack of coordination among its various agencies while pursuing Parias' criminal proceedings. “In short, the government’s failure to coordinate the overlapping actions of its separate agencies while relentlessly pursuing Mr. Parias’s criminal proceedings created a situation from which constitutional violations could — and did — occur,” he elaborated.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles released a statement expressing disagreement with the court's conclusions and is currently evaluating its options for an appeal.
Parias had been indicted the previous month on charges including assault on a federal officer using a deadly weapon and depredation of government property. The charges relate to an incident in October where, according to federal authorities, Parias rammed his vehicle into theirs while they attempted to arrest him on an immigration warrant, resulting in him being shot in the elbow.
Following the incident, Parias was released on bond but was taken into custody in an immigration detention facility located about 70 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. U.S. officials claim that he is a Mexican national residing in the U.S. illegally.
In the realm of social media, Parias has made a name for himself, boasting over 340,000 followers across two TikTok accounts. His content, primarily in Spanish, focuses on detailing police activity, vehicle incidents, community events, and protests against immigration action. He aims to keep his local community informed about incidents and threats in real-time.
Initially hospitalized after being shot during his arrest in October, Parias’s case is a significant highlight of ongoing concerns regarding immigration enforcement tactics and community relations.
