Federal trial opens in 'Dirty DUI' scandal

A former Contra Costa County deputy sheriff accused of making prearranged arrests of men for drunken driving - so-called "Dirty DUIs" - had affection for cocaine and guns, federal prosecutors said Monday on the first day of his trial.

Stephen Tanabe, 50, of Alamo allegedly made the arrests at the behest of a longtime friend, disgraced private investigator Chris Butler, in exchange for $200 worth of cocaine and a pistol. Butler often represented the arrestees' estranged wives.

A prosecutor said Monday during opening statements at the U.S. District Court in San Francisco that Tanabe "sold his badge," while a defense attorney said the former officer was motivated only to meet performance goals for traffic stops and DUI arrests.

Tanabe and Butler became friends as Antioch police officers in the 1990s. Now, Tanabe has pleaded not guilty to counts of wire fraud, conspiracy and extortion under color of official right - charges that carry a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Meanwhile, Butler is expected to testify against Tanabe after he cut a deal with the government, pleading guilty to a number of drug and conspiracy charges in September. He was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Kearney said in his opening statement that Tanabe accepted an eighth of an ounce of cocaine and a Glock handgun from Butler in exchange for carrying out three targeted DUI arrests in late 2010 and early 2011.

The women who hired Butler, Kearney said, sought advantages in divorce or child custody battles with the men who were set up for arrest.

Tim Pori, Tanabe's attorney, acknowledged his client had been tipped off by Butler to possible drunken drivers and had waited outside Danville bars for the men. But this, Pori said, was no different from receiving a tip from a confidential informant about a possible drug deal.

Pori attacked Butler's credibility and said the "master manipulator" was "singing for his supper" in the hopes of getting his sentence reduced.

"To understand the government's case, and to understand the defense's case, you've got to understand Chris Butler," Pori said.