Hearing for O.C. deputy accused of pepper-spraying pizza is postponed
A court hearing for an Orange County sheriff’s deputy accused of pepper-spraying a teenager’s pizza was postponed Monday, and his attorney said he’s still largely unfamiliar with the accusations.
The arraignment of Juan Tavera, a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, was postponed until Aug. 23.
Tavera allegedly spotted the pizza in the back seat of the 19-year-old’s car during a Sept. 8 traffic stop in Laguna Hills and pepper-sprayed it without the youth’s knowledge, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
The teen and four friends later became sick after eating the pizza, authorities said. Tavera is charged with one misdemeanor count of assault or battery by a public officer.
If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of one year in jail.
John Barnett, Tavera’s lawyer, said Monday that “until I’m able to read the police reports about what happened, I can’t comment.”
Sheriff’s officials investigated the case before forwarding it to the Orange County district attorney for review.
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E-mail: anh.do@latimes.com
Twitter: @newsterrier
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