Model, Council Candidate Released after Arrest

Santa Clarita - A 26-year-old male model, reality TV contestant and Santa Clarita City Council candidate accused of getting two 14-year-old girls drunk and raping them was released from jail today amid conflicting reports that prosecutors declined to file charges.

Johnny Pride of Valencia was arrested Thursday, hours after appearing at a Santa Clarita City Council candidates forum and booked on suspicion of rape, lewd conduct with a minor, sodomy, oral copulation of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to sheriff's deputies.

Pride allegedly bought alcohol for the girls Feb. 27, and they allegedly went to his apartment after he sent them a text message. He was arrested hours after appearing at a Santa Clarita City Council candidates forum on Thursday.

He was held on $500,000 bail until 1:30 a.m. today, when he was released, according to the county jail's Web site.

Various media outlets have reported the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office declined to file charges because of a lack of evidence.

However, district attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said tonight that she could not confirm reports that apparently originated with the sheriff's department that prosecutors rejected the case.

"I absolutely cannot confirm what the sheriff's department is reporting," Gibbons said.

She said she got a call regarding the matter Friday and called prosecutors to confirm the report, but hasn't heard back. She said she did not expect to have any more information before Monday, and that there was no way of knowing whether charges will be filed or not.

In a statement, sheriff's Special Victims Bureau Sgt. Dan Scott said, "The investigation is ongoing, including further investigation into the processing of DNA evidence."

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told the Contra Costa Times that the girls went to the sheriff's department, reported the alleged incident and the department investigated.

"We have a search warrant issued by a judge, signed by a judge and the district attorney said there was insufficient evidence," he told the newspaper.

"The interviews (with the girls) were quite extensive, their stories matched and when we served the search warrant, what they told us was all verified in the apartment itself," he said. "Everything they told us was exactly the way it was, even down to some minor details. It was pretty complete, pretty exacting."

Pride's father, Gerry Scarpitta, told the newspaper the arrest and subsequent release "is proof that the city of Santa Clarita is as corrupt as I thought it was. They've deliberately been harassing my son, but this time they attacked him with the full force of their authority."

Pride is among 11 candidates in the city's April 13 election.

He has appeared in the reality TV shows "The Conveyor Belt of Love" and "The Battle of the Bods."