Spaccia

Petitioner Pier’Angela Spaccia challenges by petition for writ of mandate the trial court’s order denying her motion to recuse the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from representing the People of the State of California in a criminal prosecution arising from her alleged misconduct as assistant chief administrative officer of the City of Bell (City). 1 The charges against Spaccia relate, in part, to her involvement in the transaction by which Randy Adams was purportedly hired by the City to act as the City’s chief of police, for a very substantial salary, the amount of which was hidden from the City Council. Spaccia argues that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office must be recused from her prosecution due to the alleged relationship between Adams and District Attorney Steve Cooley, and District Attorney Cooley’s purported advice to Adams regarding his contract with the City. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying recusal, as Spaccia failed to establish a conflict of interest mandating recusal of the entire district attorney’s office. We further conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying…