$1.5 Million Claim Filed Against City for Wrongdoing by Criminal Division Head

By Lookout Staff

A $1.5 million claim has been made against the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office and Norman Wegener, the former head of its criminal division by a man who claims he was unduly prosecuted in a domestic violence situation becauseWegener reportedly had a romantic relationship with the alleged victim.

Wegener resigned suddenly on Sept. 7, about a week after Jeffrey Lewis Boxer's claim was sent to the office of the city attorney. Wegener said only that he had left for personal reasons.

In his claim, Boxer alleges that Wegener had a relationship with Kim Haegele, the woman whose telephone call to police reporting abuse led to Boxer's arrest several years ago. Boxer plead no contest, underwent court-ordered counseling and the charges were dismissed.

Boxer, who reportedly suffers from terminal brain cancer, claims that his rights were violated by Wegener's dogged prosecution.

But city officials say that Wegener's prosecution was standard for a domestic violence situation.

Wegener's attorney acknowledged that Wegener did have a friendship with Haegele.