OCDA's Recusal Sought In Case Against Costa Mesa Civil Engineer

COSTA MESA, CA — The Orange County Public Defenders Office filed a motion this week that the Orange County District Attorney's Office recuse themselves from the case against a Costa Mesa senior civil engineer.

Danny Bruce Richards, 60 of Costa Mesa, is charged with two felony counts of threatening public officials, including District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

Richards is accused of threatening Spitzer and a supervisor in his department on July 14 through email, text and video, according to court papers obtained by City News Service.

The Orange County Public Defender's Office, representing Richards, argued that Spitzer's office has a conflict of interest in the case, so it should be reassigned to the Attorney General's Office for prosecution.

Richards was scheduled for a hearing on the motion Oct. 12 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 17 in the West Justice Center, in Westminster.