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# Attorney: State prison a dangerous place for ex-cops
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/attorney-state-prison-a-dangerous-place-for-ex-cops/
- Published: 2003-04-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:06:23.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

McElveen would have been eligible for parole in six months.

McElveen, who retired from the SMPD in May of 1999, served with the department for 19 years.

He allegedly began a 10-month sexual relationship with the 15-year-old daughter of another SMPD officer in August of 2000, sources said. That officer, who is not being named to protect the identity of his daughter, reported McElveen to L.A. Sheriffs, said Los Angeles County Prosecutor Cheryl Gaines.

At his sentencing hearing Monday, McElveen relieved Public Defender Karen Richardson. He asked the court to recognize Stein as his defense.

Stein, who will now consider withdrawing McElveen’s guilty plea, said McElveen should be put on probation instead of in jail because the alleged acts were not forced and McElveen is respected by peers in his community.

Stein characterized the negotiated plea as harsh and said Richardson should have pushed for a better deal.

“The quality of legal representation that (McElveen) obtained was basically the lawyer saying ‘Good morning’ to him before the trial,” Stein said.

Both Gaines and Richardson said they are surprised that McElveen appears to be backing out of his plea.

Gaines said McElveen faces as much as three years in jail on each of the five counts.

Gaines said she agreed to the one-year plea because there were no charges of sexual intercourse. She also said McElveen cooperated early in the process and has no criminal record.

“She didn’t have to come to court to testify,” Gaines said of the victim.

If McElveen is sentenced to jail time, Stein said he will fight to keep McElveen in custody at the Twin Towers where he can be in protective custody 24 hours a day.

“Everybody’s in danger when they’re charged with this offense in a state prison,” he said. “When combined with his status as a former police officer, he would be in grave danger.”

> “Everybody’s in danger when they’re charged with this offense in a state prison. When combined with his status as a former police officer, he would be in grave danger.” — — ANDREW STEIN Attorney

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 29, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/042903.pdf?ref=smdp.com)