| For Immediate Release Case # 10WF0658
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HUNTINGTON BEACH MAN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTING TO MAKE CRIMINAL THREATS
AGAINST A POLICE DETECTIVE
SANTA ANA – A Huntington Beach man was convicted yesterday of stalking and attempting to make criminal threats against a Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) detective. Brian Dopler, 28, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of attempted criminal threats and stalking. He faces a maximum sentence of three years and four months in state prison at his sentencing on June 11, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-16, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. By law, in order to be found guilty of making criminal threats there has to be evidence that the victim was in fear for his life. Dopler was found guilty of attempted criminal threats because he did not incite fear in his police officer victim.
Starting in May 2009, Detective Kim, a 15-year veteran at the HBPD, investigated three cases involving Dopler for stalking and violating a protective order, for which the defendant was later convicted and sentenced. Three protective orders were subsequently issued against Dopler and he was sentenced to 300 days in jail and three years of informal probation. In December 2009, Dopler called Detective Kim repeatedly to inquire if HBPD had any new cases against him. Between Jan. 8, 2010 and Feb. 10, 2010, Dopler stalked Detective Kim by leaving him 14 harassing phone messages in which he used expletives and told Detective Kim that the defendant was being followed.
On Feb. 10, 2010, Dopler left a threatening phone message for Detective Kim saying, “You f*** with my life anymore, I will f***ing kill you. You f***king slant-eyed f***. That’s a promise. The next cop that follows me will die as well. F*** you.”
Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
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