LOS ANGELES (PulseWire) — A federal judge has dismissed a criminal case against Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a well-known TikTok streamer from Los Angeles, citing significant violations of constitutional rights after his attorneys were repeatedly denied access to him while in immigration detention.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin issued the ruling on Saturday, highlighting that Parias’ defense was hindered by federal authorities' failure to facilitate communication with his lawyers during critical moments leading up to his trial. The case against Parias was dismissed with prejudice, preventing the government from refiling the same charges.
Judge Olguin stated, “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 expressed strong disagreement with the ruling and is currently evaluating options for an appeal.
Parias was initially indicted on charges of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and damaging government property stemming from an incident in October, where he allegedly rammed his vehicle into federal officers' vehicles during an arrest attempt. He was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the elbow during the confrontation.
Parias is a 34-year-old Mexican citizen who reportedly lives in the U.S. illegally. He is well-known in his community for his engaging content on TikTok, where his videos, followed by over 340,000 users, document police activities, local events, and community issues, especially concerning immigration enforcement.
In recent months, Parias focused his streams on immigration enforcement and community demonstrations in Southern California, providing real-time updates to his followers. He remains in an immigration detention facility, where he continues to be a significant voice for many in the region.
