Los Angeles DA Gascon Ethics Chief Charged with 11 Felonies

In what can only be called a stunning development, especially considering their close relationship, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed 11 felony charges against Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s chief of ethics and integrity Diana Teran.

According to a release from Bonta’s office, Diana Teran, a Deputy District Attorney, has been charged with “11 felony violations of Penal Code section 502, subdivision (c)(2), alleging repeated and unauthorized use of data from confidential, statutorily-protected peace officer files. Penal Code section 502, subdivision (c)(2) prohibits the use of data from a government computer system without permission. “

In other words, Teran illegally – allegedly – looked into officer personnel files and then apparently improperly used said information in court or before a trial.

“No one is above the law,” said Bonta. “Public officials are called to serve the people and the State of California with integrity and honesty. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to fight for the people of California and hold those who break the law accountable.”

The felony complaint for Teran’s arrest – it is unknown at this moment if she has been arrested, turned herself in, etc. – states 11 times that Teran “on or about April 26, 2021” – when she was already with Gascon’s office, though she could have been technically “on loan” from the public defender’s office – she worked there, too, though her status is a bit unclear – “did knowingly access and without permission take, copy or make use of data” regarding a “sheriff’s deputy.”

Teran joined the office a month after Gascon was elected, and her “LinkedIn” resume lists time with the sheriff’s office, the county, and the public defender’s office.  

Gascon, it appears, has acted quickly to try to staunch the damage.  In a photo of an internal DA’s office memo dated today the Globe has obtained, it states that “please note the following temporary executive office staff reassignments, effective immediately,” with one James Garrison now the assistant district attorney” in charge of “ethics and integrity.”

In other words, Teran seems to be out.

Prior to the Globe receiving the memo, Gascon sent a statement regarding the matter:

“When I took office, we developed a protocol that ensured we complied with our constitutional obligations under Brady – which requires us to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense, a category that includes law enforcement’s prior misconduct – while simultaneously complying with state and federal law around privacy. I stand by that protocol,” Gascon said.

“While we cannot comment on specific personnel matters, we will comply with any investigation from the Attorney General’s Office. I remain committed to upholding transparency and ensuring police accountability within Los Angeles County. These principles are paramount to the integrity of our work and the trust of the community we serve. We will address this matter with the utmost seriousness and diligence to uphold the values of justice and fairness.”

While it is unclear exactly what information Teran allegedly accessed and how she used it, it could have been rather valuable information considering she was, according to sources, the person in Gascon’s office who reviewed re-sentencing requests.

Typically, a defendant can request certain information regarding an officer.  The judge then reviews that information in camera and decides what, if anything, is relevant to the case.  The DA’s office can do the same but it seems Teran obtained and then used such information improperly.

Potentialities from the allegation are multiple, but include such things as “helping” someone who is trying to get re-sentenced to a lower prison term.  

Teran is also the person that notified the prison to stop allowing prosecutors in Los Angeles County to access prison records. Victim’s advocate Kathleen Cady called Teran “Gascon’s surrogate” when it came to delaying parole and re-sentencing requests 

“I have had several contacts with Teran and I have found her ethics to be questionable,” Cady said.  “At best.’

The exact details of what information Teran allegedly accessed and/or what she and the District Attorney’s office did with said information is unclear as of now.

What is crystal clear is that Teran – allegedly – accessed and used material she was not allowed to.

“Whatever she did with the information, she was not allowed to have it in the first place,” said Marc Debbaudt, retired veteran prosecutor and former president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys.

What is also crystal clear is that Bonta – a long time political ally of Gascon –has made a move few would expect,  especially considering he let another Gascon minion slide on threatening police officer charges.

Rob Bonta supports the policies of George Gascon pic.twitter.com/RfHs7Aa3Jq

— AltAzn (@Alt_Azn) February 6, 2024

Even before these charges against his ethic chief, Gascon faced a rough road to re-election in November where he will face challenger Nathan Hochman.

“This is just the latest example of Gascon’s demonstrated record of poor judgment and lack of leadership in running the district attorney’s office. Promoting Teran to Assistant District Attorney, ironically in charge of ethics and integrity, even occurred despite legitimate objections from many experienced prosecutors,” Hochman said.  ‘Those objections included Teran being paid by the Public Defender’s Office at the same time she worked for the DA’s Office and Teran suppressing a declination of a police officer’s abuse case to influence the 2022 LA County Sheriff’s race.”