SCHAFNITZ PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO DRUG CHARGE

The socialite's lawyer gets her arraignment moved up a day to avoid media
coverage.

The lawyer for a socially prominent Newport Beach woman arranged Monday for
an Orange County judge to reschedule her arraignment on cocaine-sale
charges in order to avoid press coverage.

Tina Schafnitz, 38, pleaded not guilty to the drug-sale charge before
Central Orange County Municipal Court Judge Stephen Perk. He ordered that
she remain free on $25,000 bond pending a hearing April 21.

Schafnitz's arraignment had been scheduled for today. Up until 10 minutes
before her court appearance, courtroom staffers told reporters the case
would be called today.

Perk declined to comment; the case is pending in his courtroom.

Robert Kuehl, executive officer of central municipal court, told the truth,
but Schafnitz's lawyer obtained a last-minute schedule change. Almost any
reason, including convenience, would justify the change, he said.

Schafnitz's lawyer, Robert Newman of Tustin, said, "the court never asked
why I wanted it." He acknowledged he wanted it to avoid press coverage.

Terry Francke of the California First Amendment Coalition said he is aware
of no law governing arraignment schedule changes. "I question their
language on the lawyer's convenience."