Wife of former Bell Gardens mayor appears in court

BELL GARDENS, Calif. (KABC) -- The widow of former Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo appeared in a Los Angeles court Friday on voluntary manslaughter charges in her husband's death.

Lyvette Crespo arrived in court with her son Daniel Crespo, Jr., who she was allegedly protecting when she shot her husband in September 2014.

In court, the prosecutor turned over a CD labeled "murder book," which chronicles the alleged crime, witnesses and confidential evidence.

Public details from the case read like a Hollywood soap opera. Grand jury transcripts contain allegations that Daniel Crespo had multiple affairs and battered his wife.

The transcripts also include hostile text messages, including one where Lyvette Crespo writes, "Everybody gonna lose. No more Mrs. Nice."

Other text messages appear to show a wife trapped in a 28-year marriage that turned toxic. Court transcripts show she even confided in her husband's mistress.

"I feel like a loser," she writes. "You know I have no one. No friends to talk to."

The other woman told the grand jury that the former mayor battered her too, and, like Lyvette, she never complained, describing her illicit relationship as "mutually combative."

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said she wanted to keep a lid on disclosures to the media and that the judge should order Lyvette Crespo's lawyer to keep quiet.

"Obviously, it is the court's job to assure both the people and the defense get a fair trial," she argued.

The judge, however, responded by bringing up freedom of press. No gag order was issued.

Lyvette Crespo has pleaded not guilty and remains free on bond. No trial date has been set.