Pellicano Trial: Sgt. Mark Arneson's Possible LAPD Computer Queries on Garry Shandling, Bernard Weinraub and Anita Busch

So far in court today, prosecutor Kevin Lally went about introducing a series of inquiries about criminal and DMV information that were allegedly run by former Sgt. Mark Arneson. Detective Helen Lim spent her time on the stand explaining how she conducted an investigation into the various "runs" that Mr. Arneson made during a period from 1999 to 2003. She said that she was investigating whether Mr. Arneson had engaged in the inappropriate access of computer information when working as a Sgt. for the Los Angeles Police Department. She also established that Mr. Arneson was given both a serial number and a password to access the LAPD computers. According to Ms. Lim, Mr. Arneson's password was "sparky."

Ms. Lim also testified that she was asked by the F.B.I. to check to see if Mr. Arneson had run a variety of different names over the course of her investigation, including former New York Times reporter Anita Busch. Mr. Lally put a number of the computer runs up on a screen and then asked Ms. Lim if she could identify the particular inquiries that were made about Mr. Garry Shandling. Ms. Lim testified that in January of 1999, an inquiry was made as to information about Mr. Shandling's driver's license as well as all vehicles registered to the comedian any traffic citations. There was also a search as to any police reports related to Mr. Shandling and a search for any criminal history for the individual identified in the "run" as Garry Shandling.

Ms. Lim then testified that in May, 2002, the LAPD computer bases were searched for information relating to Bernard Weinraub, a former New York Times reporter who during that period was writing articles critical of former super agent, Michael Ovitz. Computer runs were also done on Anita Busch, who co-wrote those articles with Mr. Weinraub. (None of the testimony today mentioned Mr. Ovitz, nor could Ms. Lim identify why the person using Mr. Arneson's serial number and password made inquiries on either Ms. Busch or Mr. Weinraub.)

Mr. Arneson's attorney, Chad Hummel, then conducted cross-examination. I'll write more about that at the next break...so stay tuned. Also, we can expect Linda Doucett, Mr. Shandling's ex-girlfriend, to testify on Tuesday.

Read full HuffPost coverage from inside the courtroom

Comments

[SteveSmith]

Is there some reason they don't conduct the trial on Mondays?