At a Glance
- Judge Fernando Olguin dismisses indictment against TikTok streamer Carlitos Ricardo Parias.
- Dismissal is with prejudice after lawyers denied access in immigration detention.
- Parias, a Mexican citizen, was arrested in October and faced charges of assault and property damage.
- Why it matters: The ruling highlights constitutional rights for detainees and affects the legal status of a prominent social media figure.
A federal judge in Los Angeles has thrown out the criminal indictment against TikTok star Carlitos Ricardo Parias after his lawyers were repeatedly denied visits while he was held in immigration detention. The decision, made by Judge Fernando Olguin, dismisses the case with prejudice, preventing the government from refiling the same charges.
Judge’s Decision
Judge Fernando Olguin issued the ruling on Saturday, citing repeated failures by federal authorities to allow Parias’ defense team access to him in the Adelanto detention center. The judge noted that these failures violated Parias’ constitutional rights and that the government’s coordination of agencies was lacking.
Judge Olguin wrote:
> “In short, the government’s failure to coordinate the overlapping actions of its separate agencies while relentlessly pursuing Mr. Parias’s criminal proceedings created a situation from which constitutional violations could – and did – occur,”
Background on the Indictment
Parias was indicted last month and pleaded not guilty to charges of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon and depredation of government property. The charges stemmed from an October incident where authorities say Parias rammed his vehicle into theirs while they attempted to arrest him on an immigration warrant and shot him in the elbow.
| Charge | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Assault on federal officer with deadly weapon | Dismissed with prejudice |
| Depredation of government property | Dismissed with prejudice |
Legal and Public Reaction
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles said it is evaluating options for appeal and strongly disagrees with the court’s findings.
U.S. Attorney’s office stated:
> “We strongly disagree with the court’s version of the facts as well as its legal conclusions,” the statement said.
Parias was released on bond pending trial and was taken to an immigration detention facility about 70 miles (113 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles, operated by The GEO Group.
Parias’ TikTok Presence
Known for Spanish-language videos, Parias has over 340,000 followers across two TikTok accounts. His content covers police activity, car accidents, fires, tortilla-making, rainy days, and recent demonstrations against immigration enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Judge Olguin dismissed Parias’ indictment with prejudice.
- The dismissal was based on denied lawyer access in immigration detention.
- Parias, a Mexican citizen, continues to be a prominent social media figure.
The dismissal underscores the importance of legal counsel access for detainees and leaves the future of Parias’ criminal case uncertain.
