A former investigator with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office is the target of a criminal investigation.

Recently retired D.A. Senior Investigator Candette Hammond is accused of perjury.

News Channel 3 has confirmed Sheriff's detectives handed over the case just days ago to the Palm Springs Police Department.

Candette Hammond is not under arrest tonight. But, she soon could be. And, dozens of criminal cases this DA investigator took part in her years of service are now in question.

According to internal affairs reports obtained by News Channel 3, Hammond first came under suspicion in 2006. Her immediate supervisors at the DA's office concluded she made up an entire interview while investigating a criminal case.

They brought the matter up to then Chief Deputy District Attorney Eileen Hunt. When Hunt told District Attorney Rod Pacheco about it, she claims in a recent lawsuit Pacheco told her "don't disclose anything." The DA's office denies this ever happened, calling Hunt a disgruntled ex-employee.

Hammond targeted former District Attorney Investigator Luis Bolanos for investigation. The State Attorney General's office arrested him in 2005 for domestic violence and perjury.

After losing his job, and his livelihood, a judge determined the case against Bolanos should have never seen the light of day.

Bolanos speaks out, "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that because of Rod Pacheco, and his directions, there are individuals in custody right now that do not deserve to be there. For this man to supervise and direct, I could be sitting and talking to you in jail right now. Now, who would have listened to me then?"

We interviewed Olga Bates May of 2007. She knew Bolano's ex-wife. Bates says the DA's office ignored her when she told them the ex-wife admitted lying to her about the charges and the gifts she received from Hammond.

"I was interviewed by two FBI agents and they were amazed that after my letter of complaint to the District Attorney about Candette's investigation and her behavior, that no one bothered to talk to me from that office," said Bates.

The District Attorney's office discounts Bolanos as another disgruntled ex-employee.

David Downing is a former prosecutor and now a superior court judge. He testified in support of Luis Bolanos to get his named cleared.

Downing later claimed the DA's office tried to commit the act of "witness intimidation" against him. They call Downing's words "irresponsible." The DA's office claims Downing is yet another supposed disgruntled ex-employee.

The Sheriff's Department in Palm Desert handed over the Candette Hammond case to Al Franz with Palm Springs Police because much of the alleged perjury happened in that city.

The fate of dozens of criminal cases handled by Investigator Hammond now hang in the balance. But, Bolanos says his life is already ruined.

"I lost the ability to care for my kids. I haven't been able to take care of my kids for the past 5 years. Destroyed me. That's what Mrs. Hammond means to me."

News Channel 3 received a response late Friday afternoon from John Hall at the DA's Office. It reads: "The District Attorney's Office has no comment on this inquiry."

We have in depth reporting of this investigation on our website, KESQ.com. Just go to the home tab at the top left of your screen and in the section titles "Special Reports," click on "Inside The DA's Office

RIVERSIDE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROD PACHECO CONTINUES TO HIDE "BRADY MATERIAL" PALM DESERT - Deputy Christian Talavera is now on paid administrative leave while authorities investigate allegations that he raped a teenaged girl. The deputy does not face any criminal charges at this time. But, these claims are now at the center of another rape trial Deputy Talavera was set to testify in. Talavera has only been on the force for three years, but he's no longer on patrol. Sheriff's officials confirm on August 21, he was placed on administrative leave. Sources close to the investigation tell News Channel 3 the alleged victim was a 17 year old girl. Three of her immediate family members work in local law enforcement. The information from those confidential sources is confirmed by an email obtained by News Channel 3. It was sent from Public Defender Tom Steelman to nearly every local public defender's office telling them how Deputy District Attorney Kristi Belcher informed him of the investigation against Deputy Talavera. It reads: "In Jose Sanchez INF063795 the case was in 2F ready for trial. On the last day DDA Belcher told me that she had some Brady material for me. She said that her office had specifically ordered her not to divulge the information to me. However, she told me that she felt that she had an independent ethical obligation and that she would like to keep her bar card. Apparently one of the investigating officers, C. Talavera, #4144 RSO, is suspected of 289P.C. (forcible penetration) He is supposedly on administrative leave. The DA 's were supposed to have staffed the filing Friday 9-25-09. That staffing has been postponed indefinitely. I asked Ms. Belcher for the reports. She says that she does not have accesses to them at this time. I am bringing discovery motions." Deputy Christian Talavera was about to testify in a separate rape trial. Public defender Steelman filed a motion to toss out the deputy's testimony. The sheriff's department fired right back, not wanting to reveal any information on Deputy Talavera at this time. Lead Public Defender Gary Windom himself alleges, in this same motion, the District Attorney's office is withholding information. News Channel 3 contacted Deputy Talavera for comment. He has not returned our email. We are still working to uncover new details about what Deputy Talavera's immediate supervisor at the Palm Desert sheriff's station knew about these alleged crimes. We have also asked the Riverside County District Attorney's office for comment. Firday afternoon, they released this statement in response to claims from from the Public Defenders office they are withholding information: "No, this is false. We don't have any Brady material. We can't give them what we don't have. The District Attorney's Office is obligated to seek justice and to follow the law. Our office will seek justice and follow the law in this case, as we do in each and every other case. In the event that our office has Brady information on any witness, we provide that to the defense attorney. This case is no different. Our prosecutor did the right thing and will continue to do the right thing." Once again, Deputy Christian Talavera is on paid administrative leave. He is not under arrest, nor does he does he face any criminal charges at this time. To read excerpts of the motion filed by the Public Defender's office challenging Deputy Talavera's previous testimony, click here. To read the Sheriff's Department's countering motion, click here.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROD PACHECO CONTINUES TO HIDE "BRADY MATERIAL" PALM DESERT - Deputy Christian Talavera is now on paid administrative leave while authorities investigate allegations that he raped a teenaged girl. The deputy does not face any criminal charges at this time. But, these claims are now at the center of another rape trial Deputy Talavera was set to testify in. Talavera has only been on the force for three years, but he's no longer on patrol. Sheriff's officials confirm on August 21, he was placed on administrative leave. Sources close to the investigation tell News Channel 3 the alleged victim was a 17 year old girl. Three of her immediate family members work in local law enforcement. The information from those confidential sources is confirmed by an email obtained by News Channel 3. It was sent from Public Defender Tom Steelman to nearly every local public defender's office telling them how Deputy District Attorney Kristi Belcher informed him of the investigation against Deputy Talavera. It reads: "In Jose Sanchez INF063795 the case was in 2F ready for trial. On the last day DDA Belcher told me that she had some Brady material for me. She said that her office had specifically ordered her not to divulge the information to me. However, she told me that she felt that she had an independent ethical obligation and that she would like to keep her bar card. Apparently one of the investigating officers, C. Talavera, #4144 RSO, is suspected of 289P.C. (forcible penetration) He is supposedly on administrative leave. The DA 's were supposed to have staffed the filing Friday 9-25-09. That staffing has been postponed indefinitely. I asked Ms. Belcher for the reports. She says that she does not have accesses to them at this time. I am bringing discovery motions." Deputy Christian Talavera was about to testify in a separate rape trial. Public defender Steelman filed a motion to toss out the deputy's testimony. The sheriff's department fired right back, not wanting to reveal any information on Deputy Talavera at this time. Lead Public Defender Gary Windom himself alleges, in this same motion, the District Attorney's office is withholding information. News Channel 3 contacted Deputy Talavera for comment. He has not returned our email. We are still working to uncover new details about what Deputy Talavera's immediate supervisor at the Palm Desert sheriff's station knew about these alleged crimes. We have also asked the Riverside County District Attorney's office for comment. Firday afternoon, they released this statement in response to claims from from the Public Defenders office they are withholding information: "No, this is false. We don't have any Brady material. We can't give them what we don't have. The District Attorney's Office is obligated to seek justice and to follow the law. Our office will seek justice and follow the law in this case, as we do in each and every other case. In the event that our office has Brady information on any witness, we provide that to the defense attorney. This case is no different. Our prosecutor did the right thing and will continue to do the right thing." Once again, Deputy Christian Talavera is on paid administrative leave. He is not under arrest, nor does he does he face any criminal charges at this time. To read excerpts of the motion filed by the Public Defender's office challenging Deputy Talavera's previous testimony, click here. To read the Sheriff's Department's countering motion, click here.