On Monday, Orange County Distract Attorney Todd Spitzer announced that his office has received $1.47 million in grants to augment the county’s efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road. Their press release touted: “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is proud to announce that it has been chosen by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to continue serving as the statewide traffic safety training agency in an ongoing effort to combat drugged and drunk driving across California. OTS has awarded the OCDA two grants totaling $1.47 million in order to fund the office’s Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program, which dedicates eight prosecutors to prosecuting drugged and drunk driving cases, as well as continue the California Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Training Network, which trains California law enforcement and prosecutors on how to effectively prosecute driving under the influence cases.
I have an excellent suggestion on how Mr. Spitzer can start spending this money. By re-opening the tragic 2017 death of Scott Clark, a popular Laguna Niguel elementary school teacher.
Clark was struck by a car in a road rage accident and killed. The driver, Jamie Mulford (no age or address offered) was initially charged with DUI and the case was continued until it was dismissed by Spitzer’s office on January 18, 2019 with a promise to continue investigating the case.
Here it is, nearly 11 months later and squat from Mr. Spitzer.
A protest at the courthouse led by Clark’s widow Christy and about 75 friends, many wearing the colorful ties Scott Clark wore as a teacher, demanded justice in the case. The couple was married for 30 years when he was killed.
Here’s the fact sheet that they passed out to those on the street. ScottClarkFactSheet https://theliberaloc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ScottClarkFactSheet.pdf
The thing that really is appalling here is that exactly one year after Mulford allegedly killed Clark, Mulford sued Mrs. Clark for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. If you read the fact sheet, its noted Mulford was involved in a fatal car accident in 2010 and has had a few DUIs. The defamation lawsuit was tossed, but the cojones Mulford has to have sue is astonishing.
Mulford has a hearing next Monday to have her driver’s license re-instated.
Mr. Spitzer was elected to pursue justice. We invite him and his office to explain why this case was dismissed and why there has been no progress. Clark’s family deserves answers. And surely there are hundreds of kids in Laguna Niguel who fondly remember Mr. Clark and his colorful, wonderful Holiday ties as they sat in his class.
When we reference politics in Orange County, there’s a phrase often used: “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied.” Stop denying justice to the Clark family.
I hope this case will be throughly investigated and the driver prosecuted and judged fairly!!!
Dan, thank you so much for writing and posting this! I’m Christy Clark’s dad and was at the rally today. Your words highlight the apparent hypocrisy of Todd Spitzer in his handling of this case!
Great article. Thank you so much for bringing much needed attention to this travesty of injustice. Jamie Mulford needs to be held accountable for her horrific actions & Todd Spitzer has clearly not kept his promise to the Clark family. Jamie Mulford needs to be kept off the streets, or better yet, thrown in jail. She is a disgrace & a danger to our community. She has contributed to the deaths of two men. Yet, she is able to go about her pitiful life, while loved ones of both families affected by her reckless behavior will never, ever be the same.
#justiceforscottclark
#toddspitzerkeepyourpromise
I would think this would be an easy decision to reopen the case. The person who was driving under the influence and caused the death of not one but two people and than had the audacity to sue the DMV and the victim’s family is not someone I want on the streets driving ever again! This doesn’t sound plausible in this day and age. Not sure why this nightmare continues for the victims!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! As a 50+yr resident of OC I am appalled by the DA’s office and Mr. Spitzer! I am ashamed I voted for him at this point. I live in Laguna Niguel where Mr. Clark was killed and in the neighborhood where he taught at LNES. This community has lost a great man and we are in fear out on the roads when a repeat DUI offender and 2x killer driver like Jamie Mulford keeps getting away with these crimes. Guess it pays to have a “well connected father”. like Jamie Mulford has. Starting to wonder who’s pocket Mr. Spitzer is in?
As a parent of one of Scott’s many many students I can attest to the character of Scott Clark. His true love and passion for teaching kids was displayed daily in his classroom. He challenged kids, he nurtured kids, he excited kids to learn- he was a phenomenal teacher, dad, husband and friend. Scott devoted his whole career to South Orange County kids and families- he was robbed of his future and the person responsible for his death is walking free! Not one death on her hands but two deaths as a result of her poor judgement. Todd Spitzer you should be ashamed – You made a promise and failed to keep it! You were elected to keep watch over our community and you have failed us all especially the family of Scott Clark and the family of the first man this woman killed. Please do the right thing!
Dan-
Thanks so much for your concern today. Finally someone has taken the time to give this tragedy some press. Well done Sir…
It would be very much appreciated if everyone reading this article would share on their social media sites and hashtag #toddspitzer and #justiceforscottclark
Thank you all for your support.
I am Scott’s mother & want to sincerely thank you for talking with my daughter-in-law today at the rally & posting this article. I hope Spitzer gets the message.
I am very sorry for your loss. No parent should ever have to bury a child no matter how old they are.
Thank you so much for shining this on another platform!! You seem so knowledgeable and a good resource to have available to Christy Clark.
Very well written article and I really hope that Mr. Todd Spitzer will be moved into action. This is not going to go away…this injustice is appalling and as more time passes more and more people find out the disturbing details of this case and how botched it has been and that there is so much wrong with this. Thank you so much to Dan Chmielewski for a well written article.
May God bring justice to Scott’s family and safety for our streets. This woman has killed two people…two people!… because of her reckless driving. What does it take to get some action? Scott was a friend and coworker and his death has been ignored for far too long. Know this…Christy, along with family and friends, will not be silenced.
Thank you for publishing this article. I am Christy’s aunt. I live in Illinois and cannot attend the rallies, nor protest directly. Christy and her children deserve and need justice. The facts in this case are appalling. Keep speaking out. Scott’s life (and death) have affected many people, while, it appears that Ms. Mulford merrily goes on with her life. The possibility of her getting her driver’s license back is frightening. Thank you again for this well written piece.
APPEARS TO BE COURT HOUSE CRONYISM ~ JUST LOOK AT JAMIE MULFORD’S ATTORNEY Clancy Haynes:::
Pension: $134,999.70
Benefits: Not provided
Total pension &
benefits amount: $134,999.70
Last Employer: O.C. Superior Court
Years of Service 29.09
Year of Retirement 2007
Thank you so much for writing this article to make more people aware…hopefully justice will prevail! We stand with the Clark family!