No spousal abuse charges to be filed against Newport Beach city attorney

Orange County prosecutors will not file spousal abuse charges against Newport Beach’s city attorney, and he will be allowed to return to work immediately, officials said Wednesday.

David R. Hunt, 52, was arrested in March after an argument with his wife and son at their home in Santa Ana. According to police at the time, Hunt struck his wife, causing her to hit a table and then the floor. The 49-year-old woman cut her arm and sustained a large bump on the back of her head, police said.

The district attorney’s office rejected the case because prosecutors could not establish that Hunt  “willfully injured his wife,” said department spokeswoman Susan Schroeder.

Two prosecutors reviewed the case and, partially based on interviews with Hunt’s wife and sons, came to the conclusion that it could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, she said.

“We are all pleased that this difficult matter is now resolving,” said Hunt in a statement issued by the city. “What happened that night had never happened before and will never happen again.”

Hunt, who was appointed city attorney in 2008 and was placed on administrative leave shortly after the arrest, will be allowed to return to work following a unanimous vote Wednesday by the City Council.

“In light of the overwhelming weight of the evidence, we believe it is appropriate for Mr. Hunt to return to his position as city attorney immediately,” Mayor Keith Curry said.

-- Paloma Esquivel in Orange County

Comments

[She knows]

Another way to state this is, "We don't trust a jury."

[TAM]

It turns out to be another slap on the wrist as always. These people really protect each other, and if it was John Q Citizen the out come would have been different. These people are not any different from the Catholic church.

[jim]

I can't believe this! I thought it was only cops that protected one another when one committed a crime.

If this had been anyone else but a city attorney they would have been jailed and charged - case closed.

I guess we still have a "good o'boys attitude" in our local government here in the OC.

I'd like to know how many of the "guilty" officials who let him off the hook are elected - and their names.