LOS ANGELES (RTWNews) — A federal judge has dismissed the criminal case against Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a notable TikTok streamer from Los Angeles. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin, cited constitutional violations after authorities barred Parias’ lawyers from accessing him during his immigration detention.
Parias, who gained popularity for documenting police and immigration enforcement activities, faced charges including assaulting a federal officer. However, Judge Olguin determined that the government's failure to enable adequate legal representation constituted a violation of his rights, leading to the dismissal being made with prejudice, which restricts the government from pursuing the same charges again.
The judge noted, “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.”
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles has expressed strong disagreement with the court's conclusions and is currently assessing its options for appeal.
Parias was indicted last month after an incident in October where he allegedly rammed his vehicle into a federal agency's vehicle during an attempted arrest under an immigration warrant, resulting in him being shot as officers responded. Despite being released on bond while awaiting trial, he was placed in immigration detention at a facility managed by The GEO Group, located in Adelanto, California.
Recognized as a significant voice in South Los Angeles, Parias engages with his audience through Spanish-language videos covering various topics, including local emergencies and issues surrounding immigration enforcement demonstrations. His content has amassed over 340,000 followers on TikTok.
