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Defendant unleashes outburst in court - April and Irene Cummings |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 19 December 2003 |
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Defendant unleashes outburst in court
By Quintin Cushner/Staff Writer
Dec. 18, 2003
A Santa Maria woman facing prostitution charges turned a Superior Court appearance into a scene Tuesday, demanding that the presiding judge take a drug test and accusing the Santa Barbara County District Attorney of being a client of hers.
April Cummings was in Judge Rick Brown's Santa Maria courtroom Tuesday morning with her sister and fellow defendant, Irene Cummings.
They were in court for a hearing to confirm a Jan. 5 trial date for the sisters, who face charges for soliciting prostitution and conspiracy to commit a crime. Irene Cummings has also been charged with pandering.
Prosecutors accuse the sisters of offering "sexual release" to customers in exchange for money at their now-closed Santa Maria massage parlor, Gentle Hands for Health, in the 500 block of South Broadway.
Defense attorneys maintain that the women did not demand money for "sexual release," but did accept tips for their massage service.
April Cummings, who is in custody for allegedly denying custody rights to the father of her children, appeared at the hearing in County Jail garb, accompanied by her attorney, Michael Scott.
During the hearing, she made two outbursts.
First she demanded that Brown take a drug test before he make any decisions in the case. Brown ignored her comments, as Scott tried to quiet his client.
Later, as Brown announced when her next court appearance would be, she shouted, "Tom Sneddon was a client of mine!"
Her remarks were met by furtive laughter from the audience and some of the assembled attorneys. Scott declined comment on the hearing, explaining that he was busy with another case.
[img align=left]http://site.mjeol.com/uploads/img40e8cd2d82694.jpg[/img]The Cummings sisters have said previously that former Santa Maria Police Chief John Sterling was a client, and they claim to have a videotape that depicts Sterling entering their business. However, neither they nor their attorneys have produced any evidence that the tape exists, despite reporters' repeated requests, and Sterling has strongly denied the claim.
Her allegations against Sneddon are new.
Sneddon's secretary said Tuesday that the district attorney was not taking calls from the media.
April Cummings' sister, Irene Cummings, appeared alongside her attorney, Michael Clayton, at the hearing without making any fuss.
The Cummings sisters are due back in court for a hearing Dec. 29.
* Staff Writer Quintin Cushner can be reached at 739-2217 or by e-mail at
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Dec. 18, 2003
:nav Source: http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2003/12/18/news/local/news04.txt
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