The man, 38-year-old Alexis Caban, is expected to face criminal charges for what the judge called "despicable behavior.
During the hearing to determine whether defendant Xavier Lopez should face a murder trial, Caban called a sobbing witness "a rat" for testifying against his relative as she left the court, according to a victim advocate and a police officer who both testified under oath.
Judge James DeLeon put Caban behind bars on $50,000 bail — which he’ll only have to pay 10% of — but if he posts it, he’ll be under house arrest.
The judge said his actions showed a "total disrespect of the court," and the courts don’t take "such behavior lightly."
Municipal Court President Judge Patrick F. Dugan added in a statement: “Any disruption of court proceedings that is intended to intimidate a witness is unacceptable. A safe courtroom environment is essential to a fair trial and the rights of victims, witnesses, and defendants. Those individuals responsible for such disturbances are likely to face prosecution for contempt of court.”
According to people watching the court proceeding, Caban kept walking in and out of the room with his cellphone, before and after a woman took the stand in Lopez’s case. Law enforcement said they thought they heard him calling people about the woman’s testimony.
The court system used to require the public to lock away their cellphones in pouches as they entered the court, but the pouch company discontinued its product this summer due to problems with receiving the materials from China. The courts subsequently pulled the pouches.
Caban is scheduled for the rest of his contempt hearing next week and is expected to face witness intimidation charges.