Law enforcement, attorney among 9 arrested in man’s death

An arrest warrant says attorney Frank Carson orchestrated the killing.

Nine people, including three California Highway Patrol officers and a criminal defense attorney, have been arrested in the death of a missing Turlock man found in the Stanislaus National Forest, deputies said Friday.

A total of nine people were arrested near the city of Modesto, about 92 miles (68 km) east of San Francisco, on a string of charges related to the murder of 26-year-old Korey Kauffman, according to the Stanislaus County sheriff’s office.

During an unsuccessful run for district attorney last year, Carson said he would like to speak more openly to dispel any rumors and prove he is not involved in Kauffman’s death but is bound by attorney-client privilege not to discuss any details he might have learned while representing defendants in criminal cases.

Carson was reportedly angry at Kauffman for allegedly stealing items from his property. He has been under investigation since Kauffman disappeared, Martinez said.

In addition to that charge, Wells is being charged with first-degree murder and false imprisonment, according to the affidavit.

Authorities also arrested Carson’s stepdaughter Christina Anne DeFilippo, and CHP Officers Scott McFarlane and Eduardo Quintanar Jr. on allegations of conspiracy and being an accessory.

“We welcome the opportunity to fight this in court”, Martinez said. The murder allegations carry the special circumstance that the suspects were lying in wait for Kauffman and the enhancement that a firearm was used in the crime. His body was discovered by hunters in an isolated area of Mariposa County in August 2013.

CHP officer Wells is no longer employed by the department for conduct outside of this investigation.

The CHP commissioner says the arrests of the three officers on murder-conspiracy charges is devastating. Defilippo’s daughter was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy and being an accessory.

Baljit “Bobby” Atwal and Daljit “Dee” Atwal, co-owners of the Pop N Cork in Turlock, who are each accused of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit a crime and false imprisonment.

As an investigation into Kauffman’s death was getting underway, a letter was placed in Pritchett’s mail box that read, “Heard your son was beaten, I hope he’s not dead, I heard he was dumped in a dumpster in Modesto”.

So far the only person in the case to be formally charged is Robert Woody, who was arrested in 2014. Woody is described in the affidavit as a known associate of Carson and the Atwals.

Carson was intent on catching the people stealing items from his properties, including Kauffman and his friend Mike Cooley, who lived in a home behind one of Carson’s properties, according to the affidavit.

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