Jose “Chille” DeCastro confused fan and foe alike on Thursday with multiple Federal Court filings in the Central District of California that is seeking to block a warrant against the diminutive YouTuber out of Duncan, Oklahoma, and award him damages for what he is claiming to be first amendment retaliation.
DeCastro had visited Duncan earlier this year in support of Heather Dawn Chandler, a woman he claimed was being stalked and persecuted by members of the Duncan police force.
His stay was loud and brief, with altercations outside of the homes of a police canine handler and in the police parking lot before DeCastro left town. His reporting on Duncan diminished and he seemed to have given up on Chandler’s cause.
DeCastro, in his declaration that accompanied the lawsuit went into further detail about the parking lot incident:
“During my investigation at the Duncan Police Department’s public parking lot on September 8, 2025, I observed unsecured AR-15 rifles plainly visible inside multiple patrol vehicles parked in areas accessible to the public. I documented these security failures through photographs and video recordings.
As part of my security investigation, I tested whether vehicle doors were locked by attempting to open them. All vehicles were locked. I did not gain entry to any vehicle, did not touch any property inside any vehicle, and did not damage any vehicle. At all times, my actions were undertaken solely for journalistic and public safety purposes, and not with any intent to steal, damage, or unlawfully access any vehicle or property.
I then met with Major Woods, a Duncan Police Department supervisor, and professionally reported the unsecured firearms I had observed. Major Woods acknowledged that the department “preferred” officers use AR-15 locks but indicated that leaving firearms unsecured in locked vehicles was within department policy. At no point during or after that meeting did Major Woods state that my conduct was unlawful, improper, or subject to criminal investigation.”
Chandler would fire her attorney soon after meeting with DeCastro and apparently use various ChatGPT inspired filings to attempt to advance her defense against criminal charges.
DeCastro offers services to teach individuals how to use ChatGPT and other AI systems in their defense of criminal charges. She would later drop the use of AI and hire a new attorney to handle her defense.
The YouTuber alleges that despite Detective Suzannahe Smith writing up a probable cause report on the incident on September 9, 2025, he was not charged with the crimes until December 10, 2025.
DeCastro says that the charges were delayed and ultimately filed as retaliation for his filing of a public records request in October for information about the unrelated arrest of Anthony Lee McAdams by Duncan police in June of 2024.
The YouTuber has been charged with three counts of LOITER IN / INJURE / MOLEST MOTOR VEHICLE / JOY RIDE – 21 0.5. § 1787, a MISDEMEANOR. If he is found guilty, each charge carries a punishment of up to one year in county jail and fines of up to $500.00. There is an active arrest warrant in place for his apprehension in Oklahoma.
He is suing the city of Duncan, Duncan police chief Brian Attaway, Duncan City Attorney David Hammond, Detective Suzannahe Smith, officer William Fitzhugh and officer Conner Newman.
In an unusual move, DeCastro has filed an emergency motion in the California federal court system to obtain a temporary restraining order to do the following in the Oklahoma case:
- Temporarily stay and enjoin enforcement or execution of the arrest warrant issued against Plaintiff based on Detective Suzannahe Smith’s September 9, 2025, affidavit, pending hearing on preliminary injunction;
- Enjoin Defendants from arresting or detaining Plaintiff based on his September 8, 2025, constitutionally protected conduct;
- Temporarily stay further prosecution activity in Oklahoma Case No. CM-2025-539 pending resolution of Plaintiffs constitutional claims.
DeCastro’s accompanying lawsuit portrays the YouTuber as a world renown journalist whose livelihood is being threatened as he is scared to travel due to the outstanding warrant for his arrest.
He argues the merits of what he was charged with in Oklahoma and asks for the California federal court to drop the charges against him based on their interpretation of Oklahoma’s laws.
DeCastro further claims that all of his actions while in Duncan, including “testing” the door handles of police vehicles, which he freely admits to doing, are protected activity as he was in the process of investigating the Duncan police department.
Besides the demands outlined in the restraining order, DeCastro is seeking:
**Declaratory Relief**
- Declare Defendants violated First and Fourth Amendments;
- Declare Information CM-2025-539 was initiated and maintained unconstitutionally;
- Declare September 9 affidavit obtained through Franks omissions;
- Declare Lori Adams notarization violated Oklahoma law rendering affidavit defective;
- Declare three-month delay demonstrates retaliation and abuse of process;
- Declare Duncan maintains unconstitutional customs of retaliating against those who investigate police;
* *Injunctive Relief”*
- Issue TRO and preliminary injunction:
- Staying and enjoining enforcement of arrest warrant;
- Prohibiting arrest, detention, or prosecution based on September 8 conduct;
- Staying prosecution CM-2025-539 pending resolution;
- Enjoining retaliation for First Amendment activity;
- Issue permanent injunction:
- Making temporary relief permanent;
- Requiring Duncan adopt policies protecting those who observe/photograph police;
- Requiring training on Irizarry and First Amendment rights;
- Requiring policies prohibiting retaliation against journalists filing FOIA requests; e. Requiring notary training on Oklahoma impartiality requirements;
**Monetary Relief”*
- Award compensatory damages for: constitutional violations, ongoing prosecution, threat of imprisonment, emotional distress, reputational harm, restriction of liberty, chilling of speech, suppression of investigations, economic losses, defense expenses;
- Award punitive damages against Smith, Newman, Fitzhugh, Hammond, and Attaway individually;
**Additional Relief”*
- Award costs and attorneys’ fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988;
- Award pre- and post-judgment interest;
- Grant such other relief as the Court deems just.
DeCastro had not opened a new GoFundMe in order to fund his lawsuit as of press time. His three existing GoFundMe campaigns, including one he set up exclusively for Heather Dawn Chandler, saw no new donations for Friday.
Jonathan “Frauditor Troll” Huneault won Friday’s crowd sourcing title with $5.00 in recorded donations. No other campaigns that we follow received donations for the day.
This is a breaking news story.
DeCastro v. City of Duncan – 1 – ComplaintDeCastro v. City of Duncan – 1-1 – Cover SheetDeCastro v. City of Duncan – 2 – Emergency Motion for Restraining OrderDeCastro v. City of Duncan – 3 – Declaration of Jose Maria DeCastroDeCastro v. City of Duncan – 4 – Exhibit ListDeCastro v. City of Duncan – 5 – Notice of LodgingDeCastro v. City of Duncan – 6 – Notice of Interested PartiesDeCastro v. City of Duncan – 7 – Notification of Judge AssignmentOklahoma v. DeCastro – Probable Cause Statement Oklahoma v. DeCastro – Charges
Okay, this is just too funny.
First, at then end, chilli wants lawyer’s fees. He isn’t a lawyer. There is another way to get such money, but since chilli does not know it, I won’t mention it here.
Chilli is asking a federal court to one again step in to stop state court actions against him.
He has tried this before in Vegas and ended up where? In jail, right until he got a real lawyer to get him out.
The Younger doctrine, established in the case Younger v. Harris, restricts federal courts from intervening in ongoing state criminal proceedings unless extraordinary circumstances exist, such as bad faith prosecution or a patently unconstitutional law. This doctrine emphasizes the importance of federalism and allows state courts to handle their own legal matters without federal interference.
Federal case dismissed. I bet without even a hearing.
The feds basically are saying go take care of your mess and if you get treaty really badly, then come to us.
IOW, before you file a lolsuit, or even a lawsuit, you have to exhaust all administrative reviews. You have to go through all the step before running to federal court. This cuts down on a lot of wasted court time and you might even get an answer that you like, if you try.
In this case, no one tell chilli, but he has just admitted to and might as well plead guilty to the crimes he is charged with.
Most of the time, he gets charged with stuff that won’t get him transported to the other state, eg Ohio. However, as the crimes get worse and worse there will come a time when they will come and get him.
4 months darn nearly broke him. 3 years… he won’t get all three, he will get one. maybe one concurrent with both others or he could call and try to make a deal. Which they won’t do over the phone and since the have his signed confession that can and will be used against himself…
He is so FCUKED