Bruce Lion, 64, a wealthy heir to a raisin empire, appeared in court wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit and shackles to face felony charges stemming from an alleged antisemitic outburst directed at his neighbor. Lion is charged with two counts of threatening to commit a crime with intent to terrorize and one count of threatening force based on beliefs.
During a hearing before Judge Ronald Kaye, Lion requested to replace his public defender with attorneys Alexandra Kazarian and John Klopfenstein. Klopfenstein has represented Lion in previous criminal matters. Lion became agitated when Klopfenstein suggested postponing the hearing, leading to a brief recess.
Following the recess, the court ordered an on-site competency evaluation. While a doctor, Dr. Becker, found Lion competent to stand trial, Klopfenstein immediately requested a second evaluation by psychiatrist Dr. Alan Chen. Klopfenstein stated the defense is pursuing mental health diversion, but declined to elaborate on the reason for seeking a second opinion.
Lion remains under a protective order requiring him to stay away from his neighbor, Rabbi Zushe Cunin. Videos allegedly showing Lion harassing Cunin from his Pacific Palisades home's balcony led to his June arrest. Lion told the judge he did not know who Cunin was. Kazarian requested the protective order be temporarily lifted so Lion could retrieve belongings from his home, but the judge denied the request.
A woman in the gallery offered to collect Lion's belongings on his behalf. His bail remains set at $225,000, and his release status is unclear.
Videos obtained by The California Post reportedly show Lion yelling antisemitic remarks at Cunin, including phrases like "I ain’t going nowhere, Jew boy. Lose some f—ing weight. Go f—ing work. Do something for a change." Upon his arrest on June 13, Lion was reportedly captured on video shouting antisemitic slurs at officers and bystanders, asking if they were Jewish and referencing "Judgment day."
Lion has a prior criminal record, including a 2019 jail sentence for making criminal threats and possessing a firearm while prohibited. He was also convicted of violating a domestic violence restraining order in that incident. In 2023, he was arrested for allegedly throwing rocks at cars and assaulting construction workers in Monterey County, facing charges including assault and vandalism. Another 2023 arrest involved an alleged violation of a domestic violence protective order at his ex-wife's home.
If convicted of the current charges, Lion faces up to nine years in prison.