LOS ANGELES (FlashPoint) — A federal judge has dismissed a criminal case against Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a prominent TikTok streamer from Los Angeles. The decision came in response to significant constitutional violations that occurred when Parias was denied access to his defense lawyers while in immigration detention.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin issued the ruling on Saturday, leading to the dismissal of an indictment against Parias, who gained recognition for his online documentation of policing and immigration enforcement activities. Judge Olguin stated that Parias' constitutional rights were infringed upon due to repeated failures by federal authorities to allow his lawyers to meet with him, which was crucial in preparing for the trial. The dismissal was noted to be with prejudice, prohibiting the government from bringing the same charges again.
The government's lack of coordination among its agencies while pursuing criminal proceedings against Mr. Parias led to constitutional violations, Olguin highlighted in his ruling.
Following this decision, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles expressed its disagreement with both the facts and legal conclusions outlined by the court and is currently evaluating potential appeal options.
Parias faced charges for assaulting federal officers and damaging government property, stemming from an incident that occurred last October when he reportedly rammed his vehicle into a federal vehicle while being arrested on an immigration warrant, during which he sustained a gunshot wound to his elbow.
Currently described as a Mexican citizen living illegally in the U.S., Parias has amassed a large following for his Spanish-language TikTok videos, documenting various local events, police activities, and social issues. His online presence serves as a platform for community engagement, especially on immigration-related matters, where he alerts viewers to ongoing activities of federal agencies.
