O.C. prosecutor, wife arrested on suspicion of domestic violence

An Orange County prosecutor and his wife were arrested Christmas Day on allegations of domestic violence, and the case has been submitted to the state attorney general’s office for review, authorities said today.

Veteran prosecutor David L. Brent, 53, and his wife, Roshawn Jolancia Brent, 27, were arrested shortly before midnight Dec. 25, said Huntington Beach police spokesman Lt. Russell Reinhart.

Police responded to the incident about 11 p.m. after Roshawn Brent called 911 while standing next to the couple’s parked car near the intersection of Gothard Street and Warner Avenue. After an investigation, both husband and wife were arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, Reinhart said. The incident was first reported online earlier today by the OC Weekly.

The Brents were booked at the Huntington Beach City Jail. David Brent was released the next day, according to jail records, but it’s unclear when his wife was released.

Because of conflicts of interest, the case was referred to the state attorney general’s office, which will review the information and determine whether or not prosecution is warranted, said Evan Westrup, spokesman for the attorney general’s office.

A spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney’s office said such referrals are common.

“As we do in all cases such as this where one of our prosecutors or our investigators is involved, we refer the matter to the attorney general’s office,” said spokeswoman Susan Kang Schroeder. “As for any other matter, it’s a personnel matter so it’s confidential.”

David L. Brent is a supervising attorney in the district attorney’s homicide unit. He was roundly praised in 2005 after winning a conviction in the abduction, molestation and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion of Stanton.

-- Paloma Esquivel in Orange County