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Jailhouse Informants Shake Orange County Justice | Irvine News
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Orange County’s justice system is in turmoil after revelations that former prosecutors, including Ebrahim Baytieh, illegally used jailhouse informants to secure convictions — leading to the release of Paul Gentile Smith after nearly 22 years in prison. Since 2014, over 60 major cases have been overturned or reduced, raising alarms that even more wrongful convictions may exist. While informant use is legal, it’s strictly forbidden when defendants have lawyers — a line repeatedly crossed. The current DA’s office claims its Conviction Integrity Unit is reviewing cases, including Baytieh’s, but refuses to disclose scope or findings — sparking skepticism over conflicts of interest, especially since the current DA once called Baytieh his “north star.” Critics insist an independent body must lead these reviews, and without outside oversight and dedicated funding, the system’s credibility hangs in the balance.
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