Local News in Brief : Westminster

Suspected Molester Closely Guarded in Court

Suspected child molester James A. Hydrick appeared for arraignment in West Orange County Municipal Court on Friday with five deputy marshals closely guarding him.

Hydrick, an expert in karate who faces 13 counts of child molestation, was denied a restraining order for what his attorney called “verbal abuse by deputies� in jail.

Municipal Judge Michael Beecher also postponed Hydrick’s arraignment until Feb. 6 at the request of public defender Pamela Boyd. The request was “a defense tactic,� Boyd said later.

Boyd said she sought the restraining order because sheriff’s deputies at County Jail verbally abused Hydrick. Beecher told her that specific complaints should be directed to jail officials.

Hydrick, 29, sat in a booth enclosed by a metal screen as two deputy marshals stood behind him. Three other marshals stood by the front entrance to the courtroom. The extra security precautions were taken because Hydrick is considered an escape risk, Lt. Les Weaver of the marshal’s office said. Hydrick reportedly has escaped from at least three jails.

Hydrick was returned to Orange County earlier this month from a Georgia jail to face the molestation charges. Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Koski said the charges involve a small group of Huntington Beach boys that Hydrick allegedly befriended while living there last year.