Former Sheriff Alex Villanueva will not face contempt hearing for defying subpoenas, judge rules

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, shown during a 2021 press conference while he was in office, will not have to face a contempt hearing after county attorneys said he defied subpoenas. A county judge ruled last week that former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva will not face a contempt hearing for refusing to comply with a series of 2021 subpoenas ordering him to testify in front of the Civilian Oversight Commission. Sean Kennedy, who chairs the Civilian Oversight Commission, said meaningful oversight would be impossible if top officials can “flout subpoenas with impunity.” He vowed to “keep fighting” to have both Villanueva and former Undersheriff Tim Murakami testify under oath “about the proliferation of deputy gangs under their leadership of the department.” In early 2020, the Board of Supervisors granted the commission subpoena power, which voters then reaffirmed with the approval of Measure R. A few months later, Gov. Villanueva questioned the legality of the subpoena, which he called a “public shaming endeavor.” The dispute ended up in court, but Villanueva avoided a contempt hearing by agreeing to answer the commission’s questions voluntarily.