Sometimes criminal suspects are their own worst enemies. To highlight that, California lawyer Kevin Rooney, who has worked as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney in Stockton and New York, recently launched a story series on Instagram. As he explained, “I’m going to start a new series called Stupid and True. Not strange but true, but stupid and true, because we see a lot in the criminal justice system.”
In his first video, he shared a story from his time as a prosecutor in Stockton, writing in the caption, “Decisions so bad, they’re hard to believe. Welcome to criminal court!” Rooney recounted a robbery-and-shooting case. He claimed, “A woman was robbed, and in the course of the robbery of her purse, she was shot. Through the investigation of that case, we discovered that this gunman, this robber, had committed a number of these purse robberies at gunpoint.”
Per the post, they were all brand-name purses, and allegedly, the suspect gave some to his girlfriend. He alleged, “They were both heavy and in drugs. And she posted pictures of the purses within hours of the robberies. And so we, we found all this evidence. He was arrested. He was charged. He was prosecuted.” Things got stranger when they subpoenaed the girlfriend. Enough that he noted, “She was assigned counsel because she was clearly at risk of incriminating herself.”
Handing over evidence on a platter
Now, it should be noted that this story is Rooney’s recollection and version of events. In a follow-up video, he claimed it was on public record and could be looked up as part of Stockton’s court proceedings. “She brought one of the purses with her,” Rooney claimed. He also added, “We also had the police seize that stolen purse. Inside the stolen purse were bullets that matched the shell casings that were found at the scene of the shooting”
He concluded his account by emphasizing the reality of the situation: “So, you cannot make this stuff up. People do the dumbest things. And when they do, they get caught.”
The story resonated with many viewers, who shared their own experiences with legal absurdity in the comments section. One user agreed with Rooney, “You literally can not write this s—! Truth is stranger than fiction in a day in the life of lawyering.” Another commenter shared, “When my dad was a public defender one of his clients showed up drunk to court for a DUI case.” In another case, a New York man showed up intoxicated to pick up a friend arrested for a DUI.
A particularly wild account came from a lawyer who defended a civil lawsuit against a plaintiff who claimed to be paralyzed. They wrote, “A week later, I’m in the McDonald’s drive through getting a breakfast sandwich. The guy ahead of me was asked to pull up and to the side to wait for his food. He did, but got pissed about it and got out of the car and walked right in front of my car. WALKED. Easily. Same guy, my plaintiff. I took a picture with my then-Motorola Razor flip phone. Case dismissed that afternoon.”
These anecdotes serve as a stark reminder of why professional legal guidance is essential, and why certain behaviors should be avoided lest they sabotage the case. The criminal defense team at The Zeiger Firm emphasized the importance of staying off social media and keeping quiet about your case. They advise that talking to friends or family about your situation can provide law enforcement with more people to interview and create inconsistencies in your defense.
Furthermore, the Firm stressed that you should never engage with law enforcement. As another lawyer pointed out, “It’s a trap.” The Zeiger firm also cautioned against attempting to contact victims or witnesses without your lawyer present. Approaching these individuals can lead to additional charges, such as obstruction of justice or witness tampering.
Per their guidelines, it is also crucial to show respect to the court by dressing appropriately and arriving on time. As the firm notes, “When you present your best self, you demonstrate character to the judge and jury and paint the picture of a responsible, law-abiding citizen.”
Ultimately, Rooney’s series serves as a mix of entertainment and a cautionary tale. “I’m not sharing these stories because I’m trying to help people get away with crimes,” Rooney stated. “It’s just a little levity for your day. I hope you have a great day.”
Published: Aug 21, 2026 09:23 pm