TORRANCE, Calif. — A person convicted of attempted murder appeared by video before Judge John J. Lonergan in Department 8 of Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, Nov. 6, seeking relief under California’s Racial Justice Act and alleging misconduct by legal officials involved in the original criminal proceedings.
The hearing at the Torrance Courthouse concerned allegations that the convicted person experienced racial discrimination and unfair treatment during the criminal case, which began in July 2018.
The original charges included attempted murder and assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The individual was subsequently convicted of felony attempted murder and sentenced to prison.
During Friday’s hearing, the convicted person raised several allegations involving the former deputy public defender, the prosecutor and the judge who presided over earlier proceedings.
Among the allegations was a claim that the former defense attorney and prosecutor failed to appear at sentencing and instead went to an IHOP restaurant.
The individual also alleged that Judge Alan B. Honeycutt made inappropriate remarks about the convicted person, their spouse and two children, who were reportedly present in the courtroom.
According to the account presented during the hearing, Honeycutt allegedly referred to the family as “Monsters” and said, “lets just get this case over with.”
These allegations were raised during the post-conviction proceedings and have not been independently substantiated.
Deputy Public Defender Ani Hartunian Hernandez requested that the court consider the allegations under California’s Racial Justice Act, which prohibits the state from seeking or obtaining criminal convictions or sentences on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin.
The law provides a mechanism for people convicted of crimes to challenge their convictions or sentences when they believe racial discrimination affected their cases.
The convicted person maintained that racial discrimination played a role in the original proceedings and sought judicial review of the alleged misconduct.
Judge John Lonergan declined to grant relief at Friday’s hearing and questioned the credibility of the allegations, according to the courtroom account.
The judge reportedly referenced the individual’s incarceration and prior criminal history while expressing skepticism about the claims.
Lonergan also questioned whether the allegations could be supported by evidence and asked the defense whether it wanted additional time to substantiate them.
According to the courtroom account, the judge suggested that if the allegations had been fabricated, the individual should acknowledge that rather than continue pursuing them.
Despite declining to grant relief during the hearing, Lonergan agreed to schedule another court appearance to allow the defense to address the allegations further.
Hernandez and the convicted person agreed to return to court Dec. 11, 2026, when the allegations are expected to receive additional consideration.
The court did not make a finding during Friday’s hearing establishing that racial discrimination occurred in the original criminal proceedings.
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