I will get to the bottom of that': Federal judge takes aim at media leak in Antioch police corruption scandal

"Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White has ordered every attorney who represented ex-Antioch police officer Devon Wenger to sign sworn declarations addressing concerns by federal prosecutors, who want to know who leaked documents to The Current Report, a Southern California-based news site. A motion by the U.S. Attorney's office, filed in October, asked White to make the defense lawyers explain who they shared the materials with, whether Wenger had unsupervised access to them, and whether any of them were the leakers, court records show."

"From his indictment in August 2023 to his sentence of 90 months in federal prison this month, Wenger has been represented by four different legal teams. He has also long maintained that the prosecution against him, for steroid distribution and conspiracy to violate civil rights, was retaliatory due to him complaining about misconduct by other Antioch cops, including a higher-up in the department who had an affair with Wenger's then-fiancee."

"Wenger was one of 14 East Contra Costa officers charged in 2023, 11 of whom would plead guilty or no contest to at least one crime. Wenger and ex-Antioch K9 Officer Morteza Amiri both took their cases to trial, were convicted, and sentenced to prison. Others agreed to testify against Amiri and Wenger in exchange for leniency in their cases."

Federal prosecutors and a judge have demanded sworn declarations from all attorneys who represented ex-Antioch police officer Devon Wenger to identify who leaked confidential legal materials to a Southern California news site. A U.S. Attorney's motion sought details about who the defense shared materials with, whether Wenger had unsupervised access, and whether any lawyers were the leakers. Declarations are due Wednesday and will be filed under seal. Wenger was indicted in August 2023, later convicted and sentenced to 90 months; he was represented by four different legal teams. Wenger contends the prosecution for steroid distribution and conspiracy to violate civil rights was retaliatory after he complained about officer misconduct. Fourteen East Contra Costa officers were charged, with 11 pleading guilty or no contest, and some testified in exchange for leniency.

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