Los Angeles DA, criticized for charging officer who taped others making racist remarks, drops felony
Hochman said the case will likely end in a diversion agreement, which could let Flores avoid jail if he completes about a year of court terms.
- Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on Wednesday that he will reduce 16 felony eavesdropping charges against LAPD Officer Daniel Flores to misdemeanors, following significant public backlash over the prosecution.
- Flores had faced felony counts for secretly recording 16 colleagues in 2024, capturing them making racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks about Black, Asian, and Latino people.
- Critics, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, argued that prosecuting Flores for exposing misconduct sent a "really, really scary message" and would deter future whistleblowers from coming forward.
- Flores is expected to enter a one-year diversion program, allowing him to avoid prison time and potentially have the charges dismissed if he remains law-abiding for the full year.
- While reiterating that Flores violated California's "two-party consent" law, Hochman acknowledged that the original felony filing blurred the office's message about protecting whistleblowers who use legitimate means to expose corruption.
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The Felony Charges Against The LAPD Whistleblower Have Been Downgraded, But Why Is He Still Charged At All? [Op-Ed]
Source: MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images / Getty Well, well, well — it turns out you can shame the Devil. Earlier this month, we reported that Daniel Flores, an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, was charged with 16 felony counts of eavesdropping on or recording confidential communications, charges that could have resulted in a 13-year prison sentence if convicted, after he filed an internal affairs complaint …
LAPD officer who recorded others has charges reduced - Los Angeles Wave Newspaper Group
Wave Wire Services LOS ANGELES — District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Aug. 19 he will reduce criminal charges against a Los Angeles Police Department officer who secretly recorded his colleagues making racist, sexist and homophobic comments from felonies to misdemeanors. Daniel Flores, 43, had been charged with 16 felony counts of eavesdropping or recording confidential communications. Flores’ attorney and some community activists quickly criti…
DA Hochman Announced Reduced Charges for LAPD Officer Who Recorded Collegues
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Wednesday he will reduce criminal charges against a Los Angeles Police Department officer who secretly recorded his colleagues making racist, sexist and homophobic comments from felonies to misdemeanors. Daniel Flores, 43, had been charged with 16 felony counts of eavesdropping or recording confidential communications. Flores’ attorney and some community activists quickly criticized the case when it was file…
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