The Leonard Files

The tragic death of a 21-year-old LA County Sheriff’s deputy in a car crash this week raised renewed questions about how mandatory overtime shifts have exhausted some of the Department’s workforce. Dep. Daniel Chavira died at a hospital after he was airlifted from the scene of the crash. He was driving home after working a double shift at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic, and within hours we heard from some of his colleagues, who told us the, ‘relentless,’ required overtime has left thousands of deputies weary and in need of sleep (as of this recording the cause of the crash was still under investigation and it wasn’t clear whether fatigue on the part of any of those involved - played a role in the crash). Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

Files.

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Federal agents scouring online profiles that appear tied to the man who blew up a fertility clinic in Palm Springs — include some videos of explosive experiments in the desert! Some of the videos, which have since been taken-down from YouTube and other sites, show specific chemicals used in some of the tests. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

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We have a full account of the statements Lyle and Erik Menendez made in court this week just before a judge reduced their prison terms and opened the door to possible release on parole. Parole hearings are often scheduled months in advance, and it wasn’t clear when a hearing would happen. Then, late this week California prison officials announced a previously scheduled June 13, 2025 clemency suitability hearing would be “converted” to an initial parole hearing for the brothers. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

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Erik & Lyle Menendez will argue this week that they deserve to have their life-without-parole prison terms reduced after spending decades behind bars. A resentencing hearing, delayed repeatedly for a variety of reasons, is finally scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 13. The LA County District Attorney's Office says it will oppose it, after unsuccessfully trying to intervene to stop the proceeding entirely. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

Files.

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Journalist Dexter Thomas joins the pod to explain who made those (obviously) fake videos of the Hollywood sign on fire – that spread rapidly across social media on the day the Palisades and Eaton Fires burned through Southern California. It turns out those fake videos earned the creator quite a bit of real money! And now – the person behind some of the imagery is selling an online course to teach others how to do it. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

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In the latest development in the Menendez brothers’ saga — California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office says there’s no reason their resentencing can’t go ahead with prosecutors from the LA County District Attorney's Office. Erik and Lyle Menendez have asked the court to boot the DA, alleging the elected DA and the entire office are biased against their bid to receive reduced sentences for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

Files.

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The judge considering whether or not Erik and Lyle Menendez deserve to have their life-without-parole prison terms reduced is expected to decide this week - whether the LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman should be removed from the case. Menendez defense lawyer Mark Geragos says the DA himself is too biased to be fair, and that means all of the office’s employees should be booted as well. What’s the legal standard for a removal like this? The state Supreme Court set some criteria and gave trial judges the power to decide. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

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Nearly a month after LAPD officers shot and wounded Jillian Shriner in Eagle Rock — prosecutors still haven’t decided whether or not to file criminal charges. The LAPD says Shriner, who’s married to Weezer bassist Scott Schriner, fired a shot at officers while they were searching backyards for three people who fled from a freeway crash. Shriner was wounded when two officers returned fire, but recovered and was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

Files.

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An odd side-story to the recovery from the Palisades and Eaton Fires: the LAPD has been collecting and cataloging hundreds of guns found in the ashes of burned homes. They’re trying to make sure government records show guns burned up in the fire are listed as destroyed, or returned to the legal owners. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

Files.

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Defense lawyers for the Menendez brothers have filed a request with the court to remove the LA County District Attorney from the case. Not just the prosecutors in the courtroom — but the entire DA’s office, based on the idea that the elected District Attorney is so biased against them that the proceeding cannot be fair. Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover

the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing

moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard

Files.

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