A former police traffic sergeant has pleaded no contest to destroying a traffic citation issued to a county prosecutor, who in turn has been charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice involving a 2011 traffic stop in Pacific Beach. The misdemeanor case against former officer Kevin B. Friedman, 48, is over now that he retired from the San Diego Police Department, but there is a likely trial looming for Deputy District Attorney Allison Worden, 37, in San Diego Superior Court. Worden is on a paid leave from the county District Attorney’s Office. She is being prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office. Worden is accused of directing Friedman, allegedly an old friend, to destroy two traffic tickets issued on May 28, 2011 in the 4600 block of Cass Street. A police officer pulled over Deputy District Attorney Amy Maund and issued tickets to her and Worden for not wearing seat belts. Worden allegedly asked Friedman later to destroy both tickets, which he admittedly did. Maund insisted she pay off her own ticket, and when she did, that prompted an investigation because the tickets no longer existed. She will be called as a witness in Worden’s trial, although a date has not been set yet because no judge as yet has agreed to hear it. So far, several judges have refused to preside over the trial because of their former connections to the DA’s Office. On June 8, Judge Amalia Meza was asked and originally said yes, but then told attorneys her husband works for the DA’s Office as an investigator and declined. Worden’s attorney is ex-District Attorney Paul Pfingst. He appeared before Judge Tim Walsh on June 8 to ask that a judge be selected to preside over motions and the trial. Walsh said he would decide later. Worden has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice and destruction of traffic tickets. If convicted, she faces six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Friedman was placed on two years’ probation by Judge Charles Gill and ordered to perform 40 hours of volunteer work on May 24. Friedman was fined $500. Sentencing will be reviewed Nov. 14.








