Comedian Carlos Mencia appeared in a California courtroom earlier this week to plead not guilty to felony charges stemming from more than $8 million in alleged unpaid taxes, shortly after his attorneys blasted authorities over "an absurd show of force" in the 12-count fraud case. Mencia entered the plea from behind glass in a Los Angeles County courtroom custody area during his arraignment Monday, according to FOX 5. The 58-year-old comic is charged with six felony counts of failure to file personal income tax with the intent to evade taxes and six similar counts for corporate taxes between the years of 2019 to 2024, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital. In a sharply worded motion seeking Mencia’s release on his own recognizance or a reduction in bail, the comedian’s attorneys criticized authorities’ apparent heavy-handed approach in prosecuting the case.COMEDIAN CARLOS MENCIA HIT WITH 12 FELONY COUNTS IN ALLEGED MASSIVE TAX DODGEComedian Carlos Mencia was arrested and charged with six felony counts of failure to file personal income tax with the intent to evade taxes and six similar counts for corporate taxes between the years of 2019 to 2024 in Los Angeles, California, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital.(Bobby Bank/Getty Images)"No one argues against the obligation to pay taxes," according to the motion obtained by The California Post.
"But the raid at his home with multiple law enforcement agents, screaming ‘search warrant’ with a bullhorn, and drawing guns was an absurd show of force for the alleged offenses that do not involve weapons, drugs or violence."Mencia’s attorney, Dana Cole, reportedly disputed prosecutors’ decision to keep Mencia behind bars on a hold that prevents defendants from posting bail if authorities have reason to believe the funds were obtained through illegal means. The attorney contended the hold was inappropriate because the case centers on alleged failures to repo...