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Judge refuses to dismiss celebrity burglary case in California

July 20, 2012 |Anthony McCartney, The Associated Press

FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2009 file photo, Roy Lopez, Jr. appears outside Superior Court in Los Angeles. Lopez is accused of being part of a ring that targeted the homes of celebrities and stole high-end fashion and jewelry. An attorney for Roy Lopez Jr., charged with burglarizing Paris Hilton’s home, is seeking the case’s dismissal on Friday, July 20, 2012, arguing that the lead officer’s paid involvement in a Sofia Coppola movie about the break-ins has compromised the case. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, file)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - A judge has refused to dismiss charges against a man accused of burglarizing Paris Hilton's home, despite a police officer's paid work on a film about the case.

Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler ruled Friday in Los Angeles that the officer's role on "The Bling Ring" wasn't outrageous, but called his actions stupid and a gift for defence attorneys.

Roy Lopez Jr. is charged with burglarizing Hilton's home. Defence attorney David Diamond argued Friday that the $12,500 paid to Officer Brett Goodkin for work on Sofia Coppola's upcoming film about the case warranted a dismissal.

Fidler disagreed, but he said defence attorneys for three remaining defendants would be allowed to extensively question the officer's motives and conduct at trial.

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