Defense attorney 'beaten up by D.A. investigator in brutal courthouse brawl

Photo: CBS Los Angeles
James Crawford says the alleged fight began after an investigator with the Orange County District Attorney's office announced that defense lawyers were 'sleazy and 'couldn't be trusted'

'The shocking injuries sustained by defense attorney '
See photos and story after cut ....

James Crawford says he was beaten up by a District Attorney investigator. Defense lawyer claims incident began after alleged attacker was obnoxious
Investigator said defense lawyers 'couldn't be trusted', Crawford claims
Lawyer claims row ended with his face being hit into courthouse bench. Association representing D.A. investigators has denied the allegations

 Photo: CBS Los Angeles

James Crawford says the alleged fight began after an investigator with the Orange County District Attorney's office announced that defense lawyers were 'sleazy and 'couldn't be trusted', CBS Los Angeles reports.

The row quickly escalated into a physical fight which ended with Crawford's face being slammed into a courthouse bench at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, California, he claims.

 Photo: CBS Los Angeles

The row quickly escalated into a physical fight which ended with Crawford's face being slammed into a courthouse bench leaving him with facial bruising, he claims

The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff's - which represents District Attorney investigators - has denied the allegations.

Crawford says his face was left black and blue while his shirt was covered in blood after the alleged bust up. 

He insists that while the investigator had made 'obnoxious comments' about defense attorneys, he had not personally thrown a punch.

However, his lawyer Jerry Steering claimed his client was 'punched him at least 10 times in the face' before officers in the courthouse pulled his alleged attacker away, OC Weekly reports. But he condemned the alleged actions of the man he says brutally attacked him.

'You're supposed to have trust in law enforcement and here they are overreaching, going over the edge, abusing their authority,' said Crawford who plans to sue the county.

'He should resign.' 

The 'brawl' comes just two weeks after the attorney was able to secure a new trial for a murder suspect by arguing the D.A.'s office had illegally used informants.

 Photo: CBS Los Angeles 

Crawford says his face was left black and blue while his shirt was covered in blood after the alleged bust up 

The alleged row took place at Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, California (pictured)

Orange County District Attorney's office say it is fully cooperating with Orange County Sheriff's Department's investigation into the incident on Wednesday morning. The incident will be referred to the California Attorney General's Office for a legal review once the Sheriff's Department investigation is complete. 

However, Association president Tom Dominguez refutes Crawford's version of events and said he looked forward to the 'true facts' emerging as part of the investigation.

'There were many independent bystanders in the hallway who witnessed exactly what happened in the courthouse,' he said.

'Criminal defense attorney James Crawford's one-sided version is simply not true. A careful investigation will reveal the true facts. We are cooperating fully in that investigation and we look forward to the actual facts being released publicly.'

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