Michael Stinchfield Requests New Attorney in Felony Assault Case

A Santa Barbara businessman labeled as “extremely dangerous” by a local judge, appeared in superior court Thursday. Michael Stinchfield sat behind protective glass for his hearing and at one point, appeared to enjoy the media attention and smiled slightly for the KEYT and Noozhawk cameras.

The 55-year-old defendant is requesting new legal representation through the Public Defender’s Office, stemming from his criminal case. Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Ladinig says Stinchfield faces 13 felony counts with numerous special allegations, and a hate crime based on “sexual orientation.”

Stinchfield is accused of sexually battering two women in his Garden Street home on November 2nd, and holding them against their will. Police told KEY News, the suspect also beat the women with a full-sized baseball bat and threatened to kill them before they were able to escape.

At the end of September, the defendant was arrested in Hollywood after a dramatic, high-speed police pursuit that started near Faria Beach. Stinchfield was arrested for evading police and false imprisonment. The presiding judge said it will take at least two days before a felony attorney is assigned to Stinchfield.

The case is due back in court early next week for a continued arraignment.