The Los Angeles district attorney declined to prosecute attorney / carnival barker Michael Avenatti on felony domestic abuse charges on Wednesday and referred allegations that he roughed up his girlfriend to the city attorney for a possible misdemeanor case.
Avenatti, 47, was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge last week after his girlfriend told police he abused her at his Los Angeles apartment following an argument.
A restraining order against Avenatti was issued after actress Mareli Miniutti said he dragged her by the arm across a bedroom floor.
Avenatti, who had called the allegations “completely false” and a fabrication, said in a statement he was thankful the district attorney had rejected the charges.
“This Thanksgiving,” he said, “I am especially grateful for justice.”
A spokeswoman for the district attorney would not say why prosecutors declined to take the case from Los Angeles.
Here’s a thought:
The Los Angeles District Attorney is currently Jackie Lacey. The position is nonpartisan, but Lacey is a registered Democrat who won the wide support (and backing) of The Los Angeles County Democratic Party.
A recall effort was launched against Lacey in January 2017 following her announcement not to file criminal charges against two police officers who shot and killed a mentally ill black man in 2014.
