Son of D.A. Convicted on Drug Charge
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The son of Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas pleaded no contest Wednesday to marijuana possession, the third time he has been convicted on drug charges since his father was elected in 1998.
Anthony C. Rackauckas, 31, who was charged with driving with marijuana in his vehicle in Los Angeles County, entered the plea through a deputy public defender at West Covina Superior Court. Judge Michael M. Duggan said he intends to sentence Rackauckas to 10 days in jail at an Oct. 11 hearing; it would mark the first time one of Rackauckas’ drug offenses has resulted in a jail sentence.
On Tuesday, Rackauckas pleaded guilty to a felony for possessing 2 grams of cocaine Sunday night outside Irvine Park in Orange. He was placed in a diversion program that will erase the conviction if he gets counseling and is not arrested for the next 18 months.
Dist. Atty. Rackauckas asked the state attorney general to handle the cocaine case to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Several people familiar with the Orange County criminal court system said Wednesday that they consider the disposition of the cases to be fair. They noted that many people guilty of drug offenses are sentenced to a diversion program--even those who have already completed one.
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