Son of ex-‘Real Housewives’ star wins fight to stay in Santa Ana jail pending trial in Costa Mesa shooting

An Orange County Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday that Joshua Waring, son of former “Real Housewives of Orange County” cast member Lauri Peterson, can remain in Santa Ana’s jail until his trial on attempted-murder charges related to a shooting in Costa Mesa. The decision blocked Santa Ana’s efforts to hand the defendant back to the custody of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Santa Ana jail officials sought to evict Waring and return him to the Orange County Jail system, but Judge Jonathan Fish denied the request. Santa Ana officials had argued they had a right to do it based on a contract with the county.

However, Waring argued that he knew nothing about those terms and that he feared going back to the county jail, saying sheriff’s deputies have put him in harm’s way and failed to protect him while he is in custody.

The Sheriff’s Department has denied the allegation.

Fish also ordered that Waring’s dental and medical needs be addressed immediately.

Waring has an exposed nerve on his gums and needs five crowns, according to his attorney, Joel Garson.

Waring has claimed the city wanted to boot him from its jail because he has filed multiple grievances related to dental care and the medication as well as a lack of time out of solitary confinement, where he was placed for his protection.

The deal to house Waring in the city jail came after he was attacked by another county jail inmate in October. Waring also has alleged that a sheriff’s deputy opened fire with a pepper ball gun in June 2018 in the unit where Waring was housed.

Waring is part of a federal class-action lawsuit alleging a variety of issues at the county jail. Waring’s case also brought to light a scandal involving the improper recording of jailhouse phone calls between attorneys and their clients.

Waring is charged with three counts of attempted murder in the shooting of a man outside a home in Costa Mesa in June 2016. Two other people escaped injury in the drive-by attack.

Waring has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for March 10 in Superior Court in Santa Ana.

Daily Pilot staff contributed to this report.

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