May 15, 2019, I was assaulted by a Black Lives Matter militant: Evan "Gay Fake Priest" Bunch.
He ran up on me and struck the smartphone out of my hands, damaging the phone, and then shouting, "If you do that again, I will kick your ass."
Three misdemeanors: assault, vandalism, and making a violent threat.
Unlike most people, I did not accept this abuse lying down. A friend of mine, Jesse Suave, was recording the whole incident. I wanted to make sure that I took every precaution about this matter. I wanted to make sure that there was nothing that I had done which would put me in the wrong. Did I provoke a fight? Did I accost or assault anyone?
I could see in the video that I had not harmed anyone. I went to the police station to file a police report. That evening, the police could not assist me because the Torrance City Council chambers was under lockdown, and the city had to call on other local police departments to assist. The Black Lives Matter bigots had done considerable damager with their rampant upheaval in the city council chambers.
The next day, I provided all the evidence to go after the Gay Fake Priest. The Torrance Police Department worked very quickly on the case, and the speed of their efforts was remarkable according to some of the people working in the department.
According to one of the commissioners, the Torrance Police Department arrested Evan Bunch at a protest in Gardena a few weeks later. That was excellent!
I guess he had to post bail, and he was forced to go to court a number of times. I believe that there were four pretrial hirings, and each time, I was instructed to be prepared to go to court to testify.
Finally, The second week of November 2019, the trial was set in Inglewood Court House, with Judge Vincent Okamoto presiding. This judge has a singular distinction as the most decorated Japanese-American US Military veteran from the Vietnam War. He would go out of his way to showcase his medals, his degrees of bravery, and there are a number of videos about him on YouTube.
The first day of trial, in which the two sides had to select the jury, the judge asked at the outset: "Is there some way that the two parties can resolve this, because we have thirty-nine people who are waiting outside who are giving up their time for this trial."
I was really surprised to hear this. I mean, I have served on juries before, and it is a sacrifice, but that is nothing compared to the sacrifice that men and women such as himself had offered by fighting for this country. Why would any judge want to pressure me to end the case so quickly?
From there, I should have realized that this judge was not interested in trying the case at all. I had no idea what to think of him. Was he a Democrat? A Republican? Was he interested in tipping his hand to let Black Lives Matter get away with harassing law-abiding citizens? I couldn't read the judge at that time.
When I left the courtroom so that the voir dire could take place, the prosecutor asked the judge if he wanted me to stay. He said, "Oh yes, I want him to stay for the whole thing," with a slight, creepy yet frustrated smile.
Just to inform everyone, earlier in the whole case, the defendant had offered an insult of a consequence: he would pay for the damage done to my smartphone, and he would get a dismissal. That is not justice. This perverted, abusive BLM bigot wanted to intimidate me, and he needed some deterence. He had engaged in similar disruptions and abusive behavior before. He was even found guilty for disrupting an event in Los Angeles a four years prior. He basically got a slap on the wrist that one time.
That was not right. That was not fair.
The Torrance city attorney assigned to the case informed me that this was an airtight case. The best that the public defender was going to do, I reasoned on my own, was to try to play the race card. She was hoping to make me look bad, to make me unpleasant or unsympathetic before the jury, so that they would nullify the law and let the BLM creepy get away with the crime.
The first day of testimony, I was called to the stand. The prosecutor asked me basic questions, including the fact that she asked me to identify the phone that had been damaged, to identity the man in court who had assaulted me. I pointed to the Fake Priest. This time around, he was nice and quiet, not acting up. He was dressed up with a university logo on his jacket, all to give the false impression that he was an upstanding fellow--which he is not. At one point during my testimony, I brought out my smartphone, the one that the Fake Priest had damaged, to show the evidence of the phone had been repaired. Judge Okamoto then said to me, "Go ahead and put the phone away," which I did.
The round of questions from the public defender was pretty much as expected. She knew that she could not get her client off based on the facts. From the video that Jesse had recorded earlier last year, the Fake Priest clearly attacked me on camera. In no wise was on attacking anyone. In fact, he lied flat out when he claimed that I was harassing one of the ladies outside of Torrance City Hall on May 14, 2019, which was clearly not the case since I was walking away from her, and I did not even touch her.
She asked me the following questions, and there were the answers that I gave:
"You call him a fake priest. Did you know that he graduated from Vanderbilt University?"
"No, I did not."
I then added that I called him a fake priest because he did not act like a priest. The public defender foolishly asked: "Why do you say that? How should a priest behave?"
I then launched into a repeated litany of all the things that he done at the city council meeting, and what he had done to me: "A priest does not curse and swear at people. A priest does not threaten others, get in their faces, intimidate others. A priest does not damage other people's property and make violent threats against them."
She was caught way off guard that time. She just stood there and looked at me for about ten seconds, trying to catch her breath, I suppose. She really walked into a trap with that question.
At one point, she tried to bring in my political views, so she asked a snide question: "Do you oppose immigration?" as though I am hostile to people from other countries. I knew what she was trying to do, and I was ready to speak the truth without wavering.
"No"
"You oppose illegal immigration?" she asked a second time, as though she thought she had caught me in some strange fashion.
"Yes."
Apparently, she was hoping to rile up the jury to be unhappy with me. After all, the trial was taking place in very liberal, very Democratic Inglewood, CA, and this public defender was looking for every angle possible to get some kind of nullification for her client.
At another point, she asked, "Do you write blogs?" I told her that I do.
She then asked me about a blog with the title that read "BLDM". I knew what she was talking about. It was the post that I had written exposing the Black Lives Matter bigots as a bunch of frauds who do not care about black lives at all. I told her BLDM stood for "Black Lives Don't Matter".
She thought she had me. "Oh, this will prove that he is racist!" she was probably thinking to herself.
In the next question, I made the point loudly and clearly to the court that I called their group "Black Lives Don't Matter" because their actions, their words show that they do not care about black lives. I then shared with the court that on the night when the Fake Priest assaulted me, I was wearing a shirt of a black life, DeAndre Mitchell, who was killed in a building fire trying to save four other lives. I then added that the Fake Priest called DeAndre Mitchell "white supremacy."
That cleared up that attempted fraud pushed by the terrible public defender.
From what I could tell after the first day of testimony, it was pretty clear that this Gay Fake Priest was not going to get away with anything, provided that the jury was honest and integrated enough to look past the racism and the politicking from the public defender.
Then came the next day in court.
I was told to wait in the lobby outside of the courtroom, while the prosecutor and the public defender went into the courtroom first and spoke to the judge. Then I was called into the courtroom, and I took the stand. Out of nowhere, the judge asked me:
"Yesterday, was your phone on in the courtroom? Yes or no?"
I was surprised, shocked. I did not understand what was going on. He pressed me a second time:
"Was your phone on? Yes or no?!"
I told him that I had not turned it completely off, but I had turned off the ringer, and I did not take photos or record video with the phone. That is the state law.
The judge did not care.
"I have two signs on the front door of this courtroom, which indicate that everyone has to turn their phone off."
That sign appears in many courtrooms, and I have always understood that that means that the ringer has to be turned off. It is not the statute per California law that a person's smartphone must be turned off completely.
"I would not to see my photo captured by the witness' phone and shared with the public while I am in presiding in court. I know that the prosecution is going to protest my decision, but I must do this ..."
And then, in a complete corruption of justice, a very unjust act, Judge Vincent "O-Corrupto" Okamoto looked at the Fake Priest and declared:
"Cased dismissed!"
He then looked me, and said: "I want you here with your lawyer for a contempt of court hearing. You can face up to five days in jail and pay a $1000 fine!"
I could not believe this was happening. I was the victim of a crime, and this corrupt judge was turning the tables to make me the criminal and let off the Black Lives Matter bigot. This is justice in Los Angeles County?
"Bailiff, take away the witness' smartphone. You can get your phone back at the end of the day. Now, leave my courtroom!"
At that point, I noticed that there was a number of sheriff's deputies in the courtroom. What was this? Some kind of show of force to intimidate me, as well?
I left the courtroom without saying a word, but I was clearly distraught afterwards. I could not believe this was happening! This is ridiculous! Where's the justice here?
A friend of mine showed up about fifteen minutes later. He had wanted to see the court hearing and be there to support me. I told him everything that happened, how the case was just dismissed on a pretext, and how I was being held in contempt of court.
 |
Judge Vincent Okamoto, Who Corrupted Justice
|
He was shocked and outraged. Sadly, I would later learn from him that this kind of incompetence, corruption, and dysfunction is all too common in LA County courts. Judges look for all kinds of excuses to dismiss cases, for example. There really isn't justice in Los Angeles County for many victims. I was saddened to hear about a similar ordeal he had gone through, dealing with repeat burglars who had been doing all kinds of damage in his neighborhood in South Torrance. The case fell apart in court when it was revealed that two of the investigators working on the case had tried to plant evidence! Oh brother, what a shame.
Anyway, there I was in Inglewood Court House, and boy did I start praying. "How could this happen, Lord? I am a victim of a crime, and now the criminal justice system is protecting the criminal and victimizing me."
It was really shocking. But I started to pray in the Spirit a great deal at that point, and I knew that all was going to work out. The sheriff's deputy gave me back my phone earlier than he was supposed to. Most bailiffs, I imagine, see the kind of crappy, corrupt injustice that judges engage in, and they try to mitigate the effects as much as possible.
 |
| David Llewellyn (left) and me |
Within an hour, I told my boss Brian Camenker what happened to me. He suggested that I reach out to David Llewellyn, a free speech attorney and appellete lawyer who has been a big supporter of MassResistance. He had also assisted me privately while I was facing the legal challenges in Downey Court House. He stepped in right away when I emailed him what happened. He asked me for names, course case docket numbers, and was able to get on the phone and start making calls right away.
This guy was great! And criminal law was not even in his main field of expertise!
He told me that he would prepare all the legal briefs. All I had to do was show up and just sit there. He would do all the talking. Did I mention that he was taking care of me pro bono? An appellate attorney can charge between $10,000 to $17,500. His cost was much higher, since he dealt with federal issues: $25,000.
But he was representing me for free! Thank you, Jesus!
I may have been wronged in this matter, but I had to trust that "All things work together for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
I showed up to the "contempt" hearing on December 2nd, 2019. My attorney showed up to the courtroom before I did. I was so impressed with how prompt he was. He had provided a great legal brief, in which he explicitly outlined that the judge had NO RIGHT to hold me in contempt for not turning my smartphone off.
Surprise surprise, that day Judge O-Corrupto did not even show up! It's almost as though he knew that he had no case, and he had no right to do what he had done to me. If anyone wants to see how dsyfunctional the court system has become in Los Angeles County, they should have been there in Inglewood. No one took the bench to look over any of the hearings, cases, or motions. One judge finally did enter the coutroom at about 10:30am (Two hours after everyone is ordered to appear). It was unpreceedented, because the judge actually walked through the front door of the courtroom to the bench. I have never seen that happen. That's how haphazard and dysfunctionally everything was that day. Never had I expected to see a judge not show up to his own courtroom, for starters.
And now this?
That judge explained to my lawyer and to me that since it was a contempt hearing, he could not adjudicate it. It had to be taken care of by Vincent O-Corrupto himself. Therefore, the hearing was continued to January 13. 2020.
So be it.
Another month went by. It was a trying time for me internally. I was trying to understand why so much injustice had been happening to me. First, I was hung from a tree (figuratively) just for sitting in a city council meeting in Huntington Park, CA. And now, when I was clearly a victim, I was being victimized again!
My good friend Keith Hardine and I talked a great deal about this. It was really tough for my flesh, for my senses. I admit now looking back on the whole ordeal one year later. I had to learn that walking by faith is exactly that: we have to look at the truth and goodness of God and His Word, not out trying times, or the persecuting circumstances.
Come January 13, 2020, I showed up at the Inglewood Court House, and I was ready for just about anything. Of course, in the back of my mind, I realized that even if the court wanted to impose the entire penalty on me, there was no way that I was going to go to jail. There is no room for the inmates who have been sentenced for more serious issues, to begin with. People are being let out early from the LA County jails on a regular basis, and from what I understand, there are fewer and fewer resources for the sheriff's department to begin with. You can't staff a jail without sheriff's deputies! I heard another elected officials, in Orange County, share with me that his wife is a judge. Every day in court, she has to remain fully aware that there are not enough beds in those county jails. She simply cannot remand into custody anyone who comes into court with a violation, or who gets sentenced for a small-time wrongdoing. It's an absolute mess in jails all over California!
There apparently was a file for me in regards to the contempt hearing. However, there was nothing in it!
My attorney prepared another incredible legal brief, this time seeking a motion to dismiss. "The judge has to file a minute order relating to the contempt charge. He did not do that on the day he ordered you to come back to court on December 2, last year. The law states that he has 50 days to follow through on a contempt charge." January 13, 2020 was Day 54! Deadline had passed.
Of course, judges have become so lawless in so many places, that they do whatever they want, and even ignore the law sometimes. My attorney told me that we had to rested and ready for just about anything. Once again, the corrupt, bereft of dignity judge Vincent O-Corrupto did not show up. I kind of figured that that was going to happen. Shame on him. He didn't have the courage to look me in the eye for putting me in contempt while allowing an abject criminal get away with his wrongdoing.
The court clerk was very helpful with my attorney that morning, too. She even made sure that my case would be heard first, since this whole business was much ado about nothing, anyway. When the judge came out of his chamber (another pro tem, since cowardly O-Corrupto refused to show up), he had nothing but good news: "Couselor, I have read over your motion, and I agree completely. Case dismissed!"
Amen!
Final Reflection, and Righteousness Prevails
The first verse that I need to share as I wrap up and comment on this whole ordeal:
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this
grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only
so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh
patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us." (Romans 5:1-5)
For a long time, whether I believed it or not, whether I was aware of it or not, I often judged that God loved me or cared for me based on what I was feeling, what I was thinking, or what I was going through. I dod not have the right respect towards Him, in that He was always on the job caring for me, loving for me, looking out for me, regardless of the events and circumstances around me.
For so many years, I had been taught that we must never judge our standing by our performance or our circumstances. Yes, we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21), but when it came to resting in this promise in the face of such unprecedented persecution, I was not living up to the mark. I was still judging my standing by my circumstances.
That has been changing more and more over the past year, I am glad to share. Today, I have never had a more real and relevant revelation of Jesus Christ and His love for me. I know that He is for me, and even when actions, circumstances, and people are against me. it does not matter:
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Because of the hardships, and the calm endurance that followed, God started developing some real character in me. I stopped going so much with my thoughts and feelings. I started realizing that I did not have to work so hard on the inside to know that God is working both on the inside and the outside on my behalf. Amen!
And there's more.
My attorney, David Llewellyn, told me plainly after the dismissal: "Judge Okamoto had no right, no authority to dismiss the case. He should have held a contempt hearing for you after the trial was over. I am going to file a complaint with the California Commission on Judicial Performance."
BAM!
I did not expect much to happen, though, but at least someone was advocating for me, and for what is right. The judicial commission did receive the complaint, and informed my attorney that they were looking over the complaint. I had help off writing this report because my attorney wanted the judicial commission to issue an impartial ruling without any news of the corrupt judge's behavior getting out to the greater public.
Judge O-Corrupto Dies
Sometimes, justice comes in different ways. I was hoping to see some kind of sanction on the corrupt judge who had allowed the Black Lives Matter bigot get away with assaulting me. From the outset, it sure seemed that he was more interested in letting that hateful activist get away with his crimes.
But then I heard the news ... Vincent Okamoto passed away.
This may sound cruel, but judges who corrupt justice pay a price, and he deserved to die. He violated the laws of nature and nature's God. He corrupted justice. He let bad men get away with their bad deeds, when government is supposed to serve as a terror to evil works and reward good. He persecuted an innocent man, a victim, and wanted to make him a criminal:
"He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the
just, even they both are abomination to the LORD." (Proverbs 17:15)
It may seem particularly cruel to slam a veteran, as well, but you know what? Being a veteran is not a get-out-of-jail free card. He had no right to corrupt justice the way that the did. Shame on Vincent Okamoto.
And now he's dead, so that he will not corrupt justice ever again. There is a price to pay when people dishonor me:
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and
every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This
is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me,
saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)
Since then, I have learned and have seen God restore to me so much more that I have lost. The hateful Black Lives Matter bigots have not gotten anything that they wanted from the City of Torrance. Bad people are getting held accountable for their bad deeds. Righteousness is prevailing, and I continue to reign in His life, regardless of what bad men on this earth try to do to me.
