los angeles — A federal judge dismissed a criminal case against Popular Los Angeles streamer TikTokCiting constitutional violations after his lawyer was prevented from contacting him while he was there Immigration detention.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin ruled Saturday dismissing the indictment against Carlitos Ricardo Barillas, known for documenting police and immigration enforcement activities online. Barias’ rights were violated when federal authorities repeatedly failed to allow a criminal defense attorney to visit or speak with him at the immigration detention center so he could prepare for trial this week, Olguin wrote, adding that the dismissal was with prejudice, preventing the government from bringing the same charges against him again.
“In sum, the government’s failure to coordinate the overlapping actions of its separate agencies, while relentlessly pursuing Mr. Barillas’ criminal proceedings, created a situation in which constitutional violations could—and did—occur,” Olguin wrote.
The US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles said in a statement that the agency is evaluating its options for appeal. “We strongly disagree with the court’s version of the facts as well as its legal conclusions,” the statement read.
Barias was indicted last month and pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and looting government property.
The charges stem from October incident Federal authorities said Barias rammed his car into theirs while they were trying to arrest him on an immigration warrant and shot him in the elbow. Barias was released on bail awaiting trial and was transferred to an immigration detention center in Adelanto, California, where he remained Monday, according to an online government database. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility is located approximately 70 miles (113 kilometers) northeast of downtown Los Angeles and is operated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Geo Group.
US authorities say Barillas is a Mexican citizen living in the country illegally. A message seeking comment was left for immigration attorney Carlos Jurado.
Barias is known in South Los Angeles for his Spanish-language videos posted on TikTok on two accounts with more than 340,000 followers. Videos on his page dating back to 2024 document police activity, car crashes and fires, as well as tortilla making and rainy days in Los Angeles. This year, the footage also focused on demonstrations against immigration enforcement and arrests by federal deportation authorities.
Barias is one of many social media users posting about immigration raids and arrests throughout Southern California, often relaying information in real time to alert community members. He was initially hospitalized after being shot during his arrest in October.