Fire-Eater’s Claim Sparks Mistrial

A Van Nuys jury deadlocked Friday in the trial of a 32-year-old magician who claimed the chemicals he uses in his fire-eating act caused police to think he was driving drunk.

Most of the jurors believed him. They voted 10-2 to acquit Randall Richman, who said he had just taught a fire-eating class at the Magic Castle in Hollywood when he was stopped by police.

“I was hoping this was it,” said Richman, who estimates he has lost $35,000 in legal fees and lost work while he fights the charges.

“Here I am 17 months into this, and it’s a mistrial,” he said, vowing not to settle the case if prosecutors threaten him with another trial. “I would fight this. I have to.”

No one from the city attorney’s office was available to say whether it will seek a second trial.

Jurors said the prosecution failed to persuade them beyond a reasonable doubt that Richman had been drinking alcohol, as prosecutors had alleged, before his arrest that night.

“He obviously had something in his system,” said juror Victoria Redburn-Hudson of Woodland Hills. “But the prosecution could not prove whether it was some toxic chemical he used in his act or some beverage alcohol.”