Police-Slaying Suspect Gets Funds to Employ Reluctant Investigators

An attorney who said he is having trouble finding an investigator to assist in the defense of a man accused of killing a police officer was given permission Friday to hire one from a county-approved list at taxpayer expense.

San Fernando Municipal Judge Malcolm Mackey approved payment of $20 an hour to cover the salary of an investigator to prepare for the preliminary hearing of Thomas Lee Mixon, 19. But Mackey set a ceiling of $750 in investigative costs, which Mixon’s attorney, Robert D. Rentzer of Encino, said may be too low.

Mixon of Los Angeles is one of two young men accused in the June 22 killing of Los Angles Police Officer James H. Pagliotti in Sylmar.

Rentzer told Mackey he needed help finding an investigator because the retired law enforcement officers he usually employs refuse to help defend a man accused of killing a policeman.

“I’ve been turned down by several investigators, some of whom are even personal friends . . . because they are ex-law enforcement officers or have children who are police officers,” Rentzer said.

The former officers say they do not feel they can be impartial, the attorney said.

“Yet,” Rentzer told the judge, “I need an experienced investigator” because of the gravity of the charges against Mixon.

Rentzer said he did not want to choose an investigator at random, reasoning that the court would come up with a better-qualified person.

Cannot Afford Investigator

Rentzer requested funds to pay the investigator’s salary because, he said, Mixon and his family cannot afford the expense.

His own fee is being paid, Rentzer said, by “Mixon’s grandmother, who ran a community drive and got all of $700.”

“I can assure the court I have no money whatsoever for an investigator,” Rentzer said. “I am almost doing this pro bono (Latin for the public good).”

“You agreed to take the case,” Mackey responded.

In granting Rentzer’s request, Mackey noted that the court routinely pays investigative costs for indigent clients. He said Rentzer may choose any investigator he likes.

Mackey said he was setting the ceiling because the disclosure of evidence will reveal much of the information that the private investigator would seek.

Mackey scheduled a Sept. 14 preliminary hearing for Mixon, who pleaded not guilty June 30 in San Fernando Municipal Court to a murder charge and felony charges of assault, conspiracy to sell drugs and selling cocaine.

Pagliotti died after a shoot-out in the Sylmar Square area with two young men he believed were engaged in a drug transaction. Police arrested Mixon and Louis Belvin Jr., 18, who officers say fired the shots that killed Pagliotti.

Rentzer said he will go back to court to ask for more money to pay investigator’s fees if necessary.

Rentzer said that part of the difficulty in finding an investigator with a police background may be lack of funds.

“Maybe if there was more money to pay an investigator, the conflict would disappear,” Rentzer said.