Jailhouse attacks could lead son of ‘OC Housewife’ to be moved from county lockup to Santa Ana City Jail

Prosecutors are proposing moving the son of a former “Real Housewives of Orange County” cast member from county lockup to the Santa Ana City Jail while he awaits trial, following allegations that he has been targeted for violence while behind bars.

If approved, the change from county to city custody would move Josh Waring away from Orange County sheriff’s deputies. Waring’s attorney alleges that deputies are “after” his client over his role in helping to uncover the illegal recording of jailhouse attorney-client phone calls. Waring is the son of celebrity Lauri Peterson.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office last week confirmed it’s looking into several jailhouse incidents, including the pepper spraying by deputies in a jail holding area housing Waring and a recent, violent attack on Waring by another inmate. Three deputies invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during testimony last week when directly asked about the jailhouse incidents.

Prosecutors allege Waring shot and seriously injured a man outside a sober living home in 2016. He has denied playing a role in the shooting, claiming another man carried it out. As part of Waring’s case, his attorney, Joel Garson, learned that at least 34,000 recordings of attorney-client calls – which are supposed to remain confidential – were made by the jail’s phone vendor.

Garson has since alleged that deputies are retaliating against Waring by “setting him up” for attacks by other inmates. Concerns about his own safety led Waring on Wednesday to request a kosher meal plan, since those are delivered still packaged to inmates and “can’t be tampered with by deputies,” his attorney said.

Defendants awaiting trial are usually held in the county jail system, which is run by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Waring, who is housed at the Theo Lacy Jail Facility in Orange, has asked a judge to either lower his $1 million bail or release him on his own recognizance pending trial, alleging that deputies have been either unwilling or unable to protect him.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Cindy Nichols during a court hearing on Wednesday suggested that Waring instead be moved to the Santa Ana City Jail. Garson said Waring may be inclined to accept the transfer, provided his safety and access to medical care can be addressed.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Fish would be required to sign-off on the jail move. Waring is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 22.