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Grajeda case ends with plea bargain

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David Grajeda

LANCASTER – The criminal case against David Grajeda, the 26-year-old man charged with disrupting a public meeting based on his actions at a Lancaster Criminal Justice Commission meeting, ended Wednesday morning when both sides agreed to a resolution in the case.

The misdemeanor charge against Grajeda for disrupting a public meeting was dismissed; in exchange, Grajeda pleaded no contest to another misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace. The disturbing the peace charge was added by prosecutors Tuesday as a means of resolving the case after Grajeda’s defense attorney told the court Grajeda would not be settling the charge for disrupting a public meeting because it was a “matter of principle.”

Upon pleading no contest to disturbing the peace, Grajeda was immediately sentenced to three years’ summary probation and 30 days of community service. Grajeda was given 32 days credit for the 16 days he spent in county jail last year. The credit was applied towards his community service requirement, relieving him from serving any actual community service. Grajeda was also ordered to pay a restitution fee of $120 and served with a stay away order banning him from Lancaster City Hall for the next three years.

The plea deal Grajeda struck Wednesday also covered the criminal charges filed against Grajeda for his most recent arrest on April 8, 2012. According to authorities, Grajeda approached his ex-girlfriend and her new beau outside a Palmdale movie theater, followed them, and then challenged the man to a fight. The man retrieved a Taser from his vehicle and shot Grajeda with it.

Grajeda was arrested for violating a family court restraining order that bans him from talking to his ex-girlfriend or seeing his child. He spent the night in jail and was ordered to appear in court for a hearing in June.

Per the terms of the plea deal struck Wednesday, Grajeda pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of violating a restraining order in connection with the April 8 arrest. In exchange, Grajeda was sentenced to serve three years’ summary probation to run concurrent with his first sentence [for disturbing the peace] and ordered to take a 52-week domestic violence course and pay $400 in victim restitution. Prosecutors also agreed to dismiss a ticket against Grajeda for jaywalking. Grajeda said he had received the ticket last week for running across the street near his home on Avenue I in Lancaster.

Wednesday’s plea deal wraps up a legal saga that has stretched on for nearly seven months.  Grajeda, a frequent speaker and critic at Lancaster City Council meetings, was arrested on Oct. 25, 2011 as he attempted to enter a City Council meeting. He was charged with interfering with a public meeting based on his actions at an Oct. 12 Criminal Justice Commission meeting. View video of those actions here. Grajeda’s bail was initially set at $5,000 for the misdemeanor charge, but was later raised to $25,000. Grajeda was jailed for 16 days before bailing out on Nov. 9, 2011 and then hit with a restraining order barring him from Lancaster City Hall.

Grajeda has maintained his innocence throughout his case and previously vowed to fight the case to the end. Several city officials, including Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and Vice Mayor Ron Smith, were named as potential witnesses in the jury trial.

Shortly after his plea deal was approved Wednesday, Grajeda said that while he was satisfied with the overall outcome, he would have preferred to fight for an acquittal of all charges filed in connection with his behavior at city hall. But he said he was compelled to take the plea bargain instead because of his April 8 arrest.

“If I had controlled my emotions better, this would be a different outcome because I wouldn’t have anything looming over my head,” Grajeda said. “It comes down now to pride or family and family wins out.”

Grajeda said he is looking forward to moving out of the Antelope Valley for a fresh start. His plea agreement allows him to complete the terms of his sentence in another jurisdiction.

See previous related stories:

David Grajeda: A mayoral candidate ‘completely misunderstood’

Lancaster Mayoral candidate arrested

Grajeda jury trial pushed to late April

Private counsel appointed, trial pushed back in Grajeda case

Grajeda attends pretrial hearing, announces run for mayor

David Grajeda to represent himself, stay-away order stands

David Grajeda: ‘I’m fighting all the way!’

 

55 comments for "Grajeda case ends with plea bargain"

  1. God blessed me to have value and respect for life. To know yourself is
    the key. As is often said ” to know yourself is to know God “. Once
    you know yourself you have a greater appreciation for life and for others
    because you know that whatever is in you is also in the person. One
    begins to recognize the next person has as much right to be themselves
    and to live life occordingly ! In my younger years I only thought of
    my personal pain and suffering which gives one the false rationalization
    that you have the right to take your frustration out on others ! Again,
    I have taken on the national role of public speaker because of the
    deep and indebt spiritual awakening I have gone through while in prison.
    It was a time of deep meditation, reflection, self analysis and introspection, In fact prison was my mountain top that brought me to
    the sure reality of things that the average person doesn’t even think
    about ! I was introduce to all the great saints,visionaries, prophets
    and messengers to humanity. Prison brought about a profound awakenig
    that I am determined to share with humanity. That prison experience
    affected and effected every fiber of my being and brought me to a
    new awareness, anew life and a higher appreciation of life and our
    existence.

    People.Some would rather I be in Jail or prison and then they will show
    up with their news cameras just to confirm that we are all alike
    and prison is our destination! I have been out twentfive years and
    I have been faced with the challenge of entrapment,stings and allurements
    of every type and yet I stand here unaffected and not caught up
    in the task forces and sweeps !!!! Why isn’t there a national
    conversation going on with ‘Abdul Majeed Askia’ about why he hasn’t
    killed anyone else ” even when they deserved it ! ” Some folks
    unfortunately is low down and no goodm ” and yet how or why have I
    been able to overlook and rise above negativity while being swamped
    with attacks, slander, redicule,hate and all these evils after serving
    sixteen straight years in prison ! Why aren’t the CDC and prison
    officials talking to me about recidivism ? Believe me, some people
    (not all) believe once you have been in prison it is their life goal
    to put you back behind bars ! They subject you to all the snares and
    stings at their exposal! Yet,here I am to share positive insight and
    knowldge about being a better person and many would rather glory
    in the failures of others and capatilize on other peoples eakenesse!

    Yes,CNN and all the major outlets should be at my door considering
    all the horror I have had to rise above to avoid entrapment, sex
    stings and unbelievable invasion of my privacy and homes. I don’t
    have enough space to share the negativity that has been hurled at me.
    Even in that I want to share the humanity of this experience, how
    can a so called ex-con come along and put up with the violation
    of his human rights and still maintain his freedom and respect for
    life!!! All the churches and community shold be inviting me all
    ovr this country so that we can address the essence of life and have
    respect for life and the rights of others. Why shouldn’t the Mayors
    and governors speak with me ? Arent we concerned about crime and
    recidivism ? National Public Speaker/palmdale,Ca.

    abdulaskia@yahoo.com

  2. Okay now that this is all over i can speak freely most people have no clue why i took the deal offered well we had them make the deal on record before another charge was filed stemming from the TRO violation in order to wrap up all my court cases at once.

    What people fail to realize is that the DA had no clue the detectives were planing on filling felony charges and a possible strike against me which mean about a 2 year court battle and possible 8 years in prison.

    I dodged a bullet so to speak what was a very small incident even though i got tazered i never challenged anyone to a fight i did how ever express my frustrations to my ex fiance new what ever he want to call himself which is a lie he was not her boyfriend and is not her boyfriend to this day.

    I am political and for that reason the detectives working on the case tried to build a case around this man and he was more then willing to lie and throw me under the buss as to what happened that day at the cinema.

    We are talking major felony accusations thank god i took the deal when i did or i would be in jail right now and nothing will happen to this guy even though he is lying to the court he has all the credibility in the world as a principle with no criminal record the only reason why the DA had the ability to offer this deal was because it was okay by the alleged victim my ex fiance.

    Yes i am very emotional and sometimes i let my mouth get the better of me but i have never been violent to anyone nor do i believe in violence as the right form of action unless on only during a self defense situation.

    i never challenged that man to a fight i never told him i was going to do anything at all to hurt him i did how ever fallowed him while i was expressing my frustrations to him i wont get into detail about our personal lives because i am content with the truth and so is my ex.

    I was not incapacitated for more then a minute before i got enough strength to pull the darts that were sticking out of my chest and stomach because this man did not stop the tazer and i still didn’t attack the man even the arresting officer said i should have punched him but i am glad i didn’t what is the point of hitting a person who is scared it would have been like hitting a girl.

    plus i could have probably been charged with another crime the sheriff knew it wasnt a big deal which is why i was cited out.

    someone was pulling some major strings to base this investigation around the other man because when the report was filed which i read you can tell it was a complete set up not to mention full of false accusations.

    I have no time for them i have no time to hate anyone i only have to to work on working for my family thank god i didnt choose my pride the day i took the deal or i would have been spending my time in jail and not with my family or working to be a better father to our daughter.

    i fought as far as i could take it. i am content with the outcome even though i would have loved to fought this all the way to trail but it was my fault that i cant control my emotions better i am sorry to those who feel like i sold out but hey i didnt plea to a 403 and just a disturbing the peace.

    I am sorry to my family more then anyone..
    David G

    • Now that you are FREE to once again express yourself, please keep the comedy act going, because you are truly funny to watch and read! I’ve got a new alias for you, ” Tha D.I.G.” (D-Idiot-G). Man, how I wish there was a video of you being tasered by your Baby’s Mama new MAN. That would have been priceless to watch and probably would have gone viral. D.I.G., I will give you credit though. The smartest thing you have done in a long time was taking this plea deal, because you know your @$$ would have been toast if you had tried to fight all of the cases you were racking up in such short order. Good luck and keep the laughs coming.

    • David G.,
      You made the right and responsible decision. You sound like you have matured a lot over the past couple of months. Good luck to you and your daughter. If you get back together with your ex-fiance, even better.
      I will say a prayer for you and your family. I hope to see great things from you in the coming years… :)

  3. LOL!!!! Thanks all for giving me my entertainment for the day. These comments and bickering back and fourth is a class act……..!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. To AV… if you open your eyes and look at the video that was posted you will note that the clock was stopped at 2:35 and that is 25 seconds before his time was up. He was removed from the room and his free speech rights were violated. I am sure if you were removed against your will while you were speaking I know you would be upset if you were being stalked by the sheriffs yourself, or are you the stalking david yourself.

    • Scott,
      People were obviously uncomfortable with his actions during that incident and had he gone postal then the sheriff would have been negligent for not protecting the public. Considering the perception (based on his previous actions) that it was only a matter of time before he physically assaulted someone the actions of the city and sheriff were justified. Everyone respects our first amendment, but when it’s used to verbally assault others it is an abuse of power and should be treated as so. I agree that goes for the council also.
      Respect what DG tried to accomplish, appreciate that he is a doer and not just a talker, but don’t let loyalty cloud the facts that he has abusive tendencies.
      I’m glad things have come to a close in the way that they have and I really hope him the best in the future. His domestic violence counseling will teach him to respect others feelings and control his own better in the future. 6 months to a year from now he will look back and see how his actions were immature and hopefully laugh.

      • Adam… you don’t know him, or I would bet have never met him. If what you are truly factual in what you are saying then why didn’t the sheriffs arrest him after that meeting. It was simply trumped up afterwords to try and keep him quiet because he was exposing more than rex wants revealed. Tell me who he has assaulted… not anyone on record and I can say for sure he hasn’t. Oh lets see Ken Mann had a domestic violence order against him by his ex wife. Rex exposed that little gem in hit mailers against him 4 years ago. I think he could snap at any time…. LOL

        Rex will be exposed for the crook that he is and we all know it.

        • When are you going to quit being David G’s bitch and quit carrying his water for him?

          • Well I hope you go to speak at a meeting then and someone doesn’t like what you have to say and arrests you. I have been on the side of the battered citizen against Rex for over 4 years and I know what I am talking about.

      • I love how the newspapers get it wrong, David actually has visitation right with his daughter, he had to go to court to get them, that is were he was told not to talk to his girlfriend. Adam as you see most of the stuff you are calling facts are not, and we all know how Parris and his goon squad operate.
        You seem to me like you have some invested interes in the BLVD or are somehow benefiting from a Parris asociation, am I wrong?

        • Scott, I have been within a few feet of David at more than a few of his situations. I was standing about 3 feet from him behind the AVMEDIA guy with the video camera at the Laemmle incident and have been in the council chambers for his emotion driven comments.
          Everyone’s perspective is different based on physical and emotional biases, but I try to be as neutral as possible. I DO root for David, but the fact of the matter is that his physical actions led me to believe that he is only one comment or ‘nudge’ away from going postal in those emotionally excited situations.
          You are naive to think and say otherwise, but understand it’s not his character I judge, it’s his actions in these situations.

          • Funny how no one talks about how this started. I’ve been watching council meetings on TW for years. (Funny how I don’t seem to see them as often anymore. And some of the meeting seems to be missing.)

            When David first started speaking at council meetings, he was ALWAYS respectful. Our council members? Not so much. Let’s face it, they are masters of snide remarks and innuendo.

            David started to respond in kind only after he had been insulted at 4 or 5 meetings.

            If we want to talk waste of tax dollars, then we can look at that same council. Because they not only greet unpopular speakers with nasty and smartass remarks. They also are masters of interruption and games. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT, AND LET THE YOUNG MAN HAVE HIS 3 MINUTES.

            He would of never gotten as disrespectful and angry as he did, if the council would of treated him with, if not respect, at lest silence when he spoke.

            But they can’t help themselves. They enjoy insulting, rolling their eyes, shuffling papers, whispering and giggling when people come up to speak. And when the speaker finishes? Then it’s time to judge the speaker from their thrones (oops), I mean chairs, when the speaker sits down.

            As far as getting violent? I have to ask Adam, are we to do preemptive arresting? Because David has never gotten violent. But the head of the council, Mr. Parris has. Didn’t he punch David Abber at 24hr fitness? We all know Rex threw the punch, because the video was never found, and it was never prosecuted. If Abber had thrown the punch, he would be in jail, doing time for threatening Rex’s life.

            And if you were behind David at the theater opening, who threw out the first insult? David or Rex? Another crime never prosecuted? Really? We have a very violent man in our midst. And it isn’t David.

          • Adam if you were a few feet from him at the Laemmle opening then you would have known that Rex was the one that threw the first insult saying to the sheriffs to get David out of here. I saw the raw video and so did a detective a week later and that is why they never prosecuted him on any charges. Besides I did not realize it is against the law for someone to voice his or her opinion on city street. Accusing him of something he did not do such as physical violence mite bring a civil action against you… he is a private citizen after all.

          • Scott, now you are just making stuff up. There is no video or it would have been posted online a long time ago.

          • John says “there is no video, other wise it would of been posted on-line ages ago”, or something.

            EXACTLY!

            Did you not read Adam’s remark?

            “I was standing about 3 feet from him behind the AVMEDIA guy with the video camera at the Laemmle incident”.

            Let’s see. A red carpet event, with all the good old boys and their big haired wives (wait, were they their wives?)on their arms?

            WHY?
            So they could be both photographed and videoed making their grand entrance! There wasn’t A video! There was something like 5 or 6 video’s going. And more then one posted by the city of Lancaster. Starting immediately after Rex brushed off his coat after having David removed.

            So yes, it’s all there. And if it showed David being the instigator, it WOULD be all over the internet. Just like the missing 24 hour fitness video.

            Means only one thing. That Rex picked yet another fight with a goofy citizen.

            And one thing keeps it quite. Money. Something Rex has and David doesn’t.

            You’re naive John. You seem to be missing the cameras on every corner, at all angels throughout the gym, and the numerous flashing camera lights and rolling video at the theater opening. The rest of us can see them. And soon they’ll have video of our private, can’t be seen from the street, property. With our daughters sunbathing.

            Don’t believe anyone here doubts there’s video.
            Why do you?

        • Sherry,
          I was divorced at 26 with an 18 month old child. While that was over 10 years ago I know how the system works. The restraining order and eventual visitation are all part of the process. I really dislike the fact that we all learn from our family, the media and even school how to enter a relationship, but it takes lawyers and the courts for us to exit one. If friends and family would see it for what it is; two or often more people going separate ways and just accept them for who they are a lot of problems from ‘he said – she said’ would be avoided.

          It’s obvious I own a business on the BLVD, but it’s close to the smallest space and my landlord is neither Scott, Rex or any of that group of individuals. To them I’m irrelevant and not on anyone’s radar. I know many of the staff at the city as acquaintances and a few have patronized my business in the past, but you’ll not see the city of Lancaster cutting checks for $100 or even $10,000 for our merchandise.

          I own a home in Quartz Hill very close to QHHS where my son will go in the next few years. You could see that I have been very vocal about the WalMart situation since its inception. I call it like it is and that’s obviously a big fat payday for a lot of people that were at the right place at the right time. Nothing about that deal is acceptable from any side of the table.

          The thing is that I don’t condemn the council for their actions across the board just because people have an axe to grind. I think for myself and question the actions just like everyone else. The difference is that rather than sit online and spout platitudes and opinions, I actually go out and find answers and provide solutions. I know what’s going on because I speak to the people making the decisions and question their efforts to better know how it will affect me personally, by business and that of others.

    • Lancaster will be sorry. Every time Rex gets his way, it emboldens him the next time and the next time after that. Little by little, he will be even more of a dictator. Eventually, he will screw people who currently love him. That’s how it works. It will be fun to watch from outside Lancaster.

  5. He WASTED taxpayer money on running for mayor. WASTED taxpayer money in court and in jail. Are we surprised that he is a High Desert Democrat? He fit right in!

    Hit the road Jack!…and take a few more of your Ghetto Posse with you while you’re at it!

    • Ok… so what taxpayer money did he waste running for mayor. There were 4 people running, ballots already had to be printed, he paid is application fee. Again your just another faceless joke posting on this site that doesn’t even have a clue what you are talking about. As far as court is concerned how much wasted time is spent their because of Rex’s big fat mouth and all the lawsuits brought because of him. All David has done was defend his right to speak. I was there and am sure you were under a rock someplace else.

      • I agree with you Scott. I think He was railroaded. But, he might be making a good decision to leave town and get a fresh start.

      • Good god Pelka, you are backing the wrong horse here. We are all for a guy who acts like an adult, who has his life in order, and disagrees with the government peacefully. If DG was an upstanding citizen and had one incident where he got loud, I could even understand that. But no. He’s felon, and runs around stirring up $hit everywhere he can, throwing temper tantrums for the sake of the camera. Then even outside city hall, he can’t control his actions when he sees his ex. He may not have wasted taxpayer money running for mayor, but he wasted valuable police time when he was arrested, a detective had to waste his time presenting the case to the DA, a deputy DA had to work on the case, a defense attorney I’m sure I paid for had to work on the case, not to mention the countless clerical personnel who worked on his cases. And after all DG’s talk about being innocent, he took a deal, just like 99.9% of the rest of the guilty crooks do. DG leave this valley! Pelka and Stinker, get a new hero!

        • So David stirs up all this and as you say acts up so he can be thrown in jail… Seems to me you might be on some very interesting drugs if that’s how you think. I don’t know anyone that goes to council meetings or any other city events just to be thrown in jail. Your just sick.

          • You’re wasting your time with these false christians who exemplify all that Christ stood against.

    • David’s a Democrat??? Since when? He is a Ron Paul supporter. 100%!
      How does one get Democrat out of that?

    • Cha-ching! Another Parrisite. Apparently Rex is still paying his e-thug bill to spread disinformation.

    • What money was wasted? Do you understand how elections work as money is concerned? The politicians and their cronies spend the money. The ballot costs the same whether there are 3 or 4 names.

    • He did not take any public monies, not a penny, and yes he was set up and reairoad there was a lot of things going on in the background that people will never know about, the sad situation here is that, it set a precedent now they know how to get rid of anyone that speaks out and they don’t like what they are saying. We are the ones that lost…

  6. best news I have heard…him moving out of the AV…feel sorry for whatever city this clown moves to tho. is he just starved for attention, or what?

    • Maybe you will get arrested at a council for speaking… One can only hope then you can see what he went through.

      • Thank you Scott Pelka. I agree with your comment, not directed to anyone in particular. Sad day when you get arrested for not going along with the City Council’s program. The cowboys running this town are so out of line, it stinks!

    • Exactly. Get out of the AV. All that talk about fighting it out in a trial….just to have you punk out in the end. Pelka, WE won’t get arrested for disagreeing, because WE would act like adults and in a professional manner. Gladdis, simmer down. Its perfectly legal to speak out, if you do it without being ghetto, and DG is ghetto. Go screw up another city DG…good night now!!!

      • He has every right to speak in front of the council… you sound like a Paid Rex lackey. Everything David did was within his right to address the cjc and if you get your lips off of the mayors butt long enough to actually read the open meeting law and understand everyone’s rights you wouldn’t even make a dumb remark like that. Hell you wont even use your real name here. Hiding from the truth it seems.

        • That is very true, unless the person is being unruly. Then he can be kicked out per CA GOV Code 11126.5

          • But that didn’t happen. He was speaking during the non-agendized portion of the meeting. He was interrupted by Marvin and then told he couldn’t say what he intended to. During that portion of the meeting you can do say anything you wish to whom ever you wish. He never threatened anyone or used any gestures to intend to show that. I was there and saw the whole thing. Anyone who comments to the otherwise is a liar. I have been in many loud matches with Rex myself and was never removed. If it ever does happen with me the city will be sued for millions because I do know my rights pertaining to the law. It’s too bad most deals made in this city are made behind closed doors.

            In fact if you look at that code it applies to someone that comes in and disrupts the meeting, David actually had 3 min. to speak uninterrupted… The city violated that at the 2:35 mark on the clock then sheriffs were ordered to escort him removed. Not arrested until 2 weeks later in front of city hall to intimidate others who might choose to speak and now think they might be arrested for it. It is a sad state of affairs. I can see why new businesses are avoiding this city like the plague.

          • David had a right to speak, yes. He did not have a right to cause the disturbance he did at that city council meeting, which happened after he left the podium, which is when his time to speak ceased. At the end, when he’s yelling all the way from the rear of the chambers, was a disruption. He deserved to be charged.

          • Now that sounds like a political decoy reply. Not that I don’t agree, you just don’t sound like the general citizen

          • @ AV resident- no, not political at all! Just the facts ma’am…. Or sir…. Lol