On Sunday October 25, 2009, Nazarian and Associates provided services to my dear friend Pauley Perrette at the Hollywood United Methodist Church. Pauley and several hundred of her friends were host to “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” a play telling the story of Matthew Wayne Shepard, who was tortured and murdered for being gay, in Laramie, WY eleven years ago. His mother, Judy Shepard, has since been tirelessly devoted to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion, and Acceptance” and strengthening hate crimes legislation to include crimes against gays.

Shortly after midnight on October 7, 1998, 21-year-old Shepard met Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson in a bar. McKinney and Henderson offered Shepard a ride in their car. Subsequently, Shepard was robbed, pistol whipped, tortured, tied to a fence in a remote, rural area, and left to die. McKinney and Henderson also found out his address and intended to rob his home. Still tied to the fence, Shepard was discovered 18 hours later by Aaron Kreifels, who initially mistook Shepard for a scarecrow. At the time of discovery, Shepard was still alive, but in a coma.

Shepard suffered fractures to the back of his head and in front of his right ear. He had severe brain stem damage, which affected his body’s ability to regulate heart rate, body temperature and other vital functions. There were also about a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. His injuries were deemed too severe for doctors to operate. Shepard never regained consciousness and remained on full life support. As he lay in intensive care, candlelight vigils were held by the people of Laramie.

He was pronounced dead at 12:53 A.M. on October 12, 1998, at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Police arrested McKinney and Henderson shortly thereafter, finding the bloody gun as well as the victim’s shoes and wallet in their truck.

While providing services to the people attending the event I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Matthew’s mother Judy Shepard. Ms. Shepard visited and spoke to those attending the reading and answered questions. It was an honor to speak to and have a photo taken with Judy and Pauley.

President Obama signed into law the Mathew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crimes Act on October 28, 2009…see the terrific video at Judy’s website, the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

So to all of you have been wondering what have I been up to, I am around and busy and will have some very interesting subject matters in the days and months to come.

Readers and fans you all know how I often report that as one grows older, the world gets smaller. Well I am down at the Stanley Mosk Tuesday on another matter and I was going to get something at one of the snack bars and ended up on the second floor…when out of nowhere comes Detective Martha DeFoe! Without a question she could have been one of “Charlie’s Angels,” she is one of the best-looking female cops in The City of Angels. Detective Olivia Joya is another one…but you would not want either one of these two on your ass! They are relentless and know the cop business.

Detective DeFoe is assigned to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Threat Management Unit, the first unit of its type in the United States (it was set up years ago) that deals with people messing with celebrities and related issues. They are fast and silent as the U.S. Secret Service, and if you want to threaten celebrities in this town get ready to deal with T.M.U. For much of my career I have dealt with this team, and when you bring your celebrity client to them, you can rest assured they will handle it quickly and professionally, and I emphasize the word PROFESSIONAL. Threat Management Unit is headed up by Supervising Detective Jeff Dunn…if you ever have the opportunity to meet Detective Dunn you will understand why he leads this very elite group.

I ask Detective DeFoe what she’s doing in this place…Criminal Courts no surprise, but here at the “Stanley?” She tells me that she is here this morning on a case involving the former husband of Pauley Perrette, and I ask, “Coyote Skivvers” and she corrects me, and tells me the name is “Coyote Shivers.” Yes, now I have his name right, Coyote as in the dog that howls at night and then sneaks into your yard and kills and carries away your little dogs and cats and then eats them in the shadows. Shivers, as in when your dog gets wet and trembles, so there you have it, Coyote Shivers, very interesting name. I have no idea why some would advocate getting rid of coyotes, after all was it is we who have encroached on the land that they roam, and I have to say that the few times I have seen these furry beasts they are in a way mystical and charming….not so much this Coyote, an aging wannabe rock star who preys on women instead of chihuahuas. Part-time DJ, full-time pain in the ass.

Detective DeFoe was present to testify as to the arrest of Coyote in reference to the domestic violence against one Jaime Broyles, case number BQ027571. I asked Ms. Broyles for a comment on the charges and she told me that she did not desire to speak about them. No worries here, I very much understand and that was a good position to take. The hearing was going to be held in 2C, Commissioner Anthony Jones courtroom….but here is the rub, The Coyote was entitled to one continuance and he took it…so till next time.

I overheard Mr. Shivers, when asked if he had any witnesses, say he would call Detective DeFoe to the stand…I guess running onto a busy freeway with your hair on fire would be the second biggest mistake.

Pauley Perrette is still represented by one of the best lawyers in the city, Ronald Litz.