A judge Tuesday granted a female Los Angeles police detective a five-year extension of a restraining order against the senior lead officer of the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Division, who allegedly distributed sexually explicit photos of her without her permission.
NBC4 first reported on the scandal in December, naming LAPD officer Danny Reedy as the main subject of the LAPD's internal affairs investigation in a revenge porn case.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Blancarte said the allegations against Reedy are among the most serious with which he has to deal. He ordered Reedy to stay at least 100 yards from Detective Ysabel Villegas and to surrender all of his firearms. The order is effective through Jan. 15, 2024.
The judge also ordered Reedy to refrain from passing around any of the sexually explicit photos of Villegas, who is married to retired LAPD Assistant Chief Jorge Villegas.
Another judge previously issued a temporary restraining order on the policewoman's behalf.
"I've taken this young man out of your life to the extent that I can," Blancarte told Villegas, who replied, "Thank you."
Villegas' attorney, Lisa Bloom, told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing that she and Villegas were grateful for the judge's orders.
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Asked why she thought Reedy did not show up for the hearing, Bloom said "bullies back down" when people stand up to them.
Bloom said Villegas also may sue the city, alleging she was retaliated against with a transfer of positions after she came forward with her allegations. Villegas said she is currently out on sick leave.
Reedy took explicit photos of Villegas when they were in a relationship, according to Bloom. He then sent out the photos to several other officers, some of whom took photos of the images with their own phones to avoid any documentation of distribution, the attorney alleged.
"Revenge porn is a crime in California," Bloom said.
Reedy's attorney, Michael Williamson, said his client was not confirming or denying any of Villegas' allegations because of possible Fifth Amendment problems if the District Attorney's Office decides to prosecute the officer. He said his client was waiving his right to have him cross-examine the detective so she would not have to testify in court.
