Real Housewives Son Josh Waring In Court Again On Drug Charges

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — The son of a former "Real Housewives of OC" cast member who pleaded guilty last year to a shooting in Costa Mesa to avoid any more time behind bars was expected to be in court again Friday as he has run afoul of the law again.

Joshua Waring, 32, has picked up two drug cases since his release from jail in March of last year, according to court records obtained Thursday.

Waring was arrested in June of last year in Huntington Beach and was charged in September 2020 with single counts each of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and falsely representing himself to an officer, all misdemeanors. He was accused of possession of fentanyl.

Waring was arrested again May 8 at Ridge Route Drive and Overlake in Lake Forest when sheriff's deputies pulled over the driver of a rental car stolen from John Wayne Airport, according to Orange County sheriff's Sgt. Todd Hylton.

Waring, who was in the passenger's seat, was accused of possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the glove compartment of the car, Hylton said.

Waring was at the center of an attempted murder case that generated multiple headlines as it revealed a major scandal with the improper taping of confidential phone calls between jail inmates and their attorneys. Waring also alleged he was retaliated against by deputies while in custody for his role in uncovering the scandal.

Waring pleaded guilty March 6 last year to single counts of assault with a firearm and leading police on a chase, and two counts of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, all felonies. He also admitted single misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run with property damage and battery.

Waring also resolved a separate case and pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine for sale and false personation, both felonies.

Waring was originally charged with three counts of attempted murder, along with a sentencing enhancement of attempted premeditated murder, for the June 20, 2016, shooting of Daniel Lopez, then 35, outside a home in Costa Mesa. Two other people escaped injury in the drive-by attack.

At the time of his plea deal, Waring was facing 65 years to life in prison, but, instead, he was sentenced to time served in jail awaiting trial.

Waring's mother, Lauri Waring Peterson, told reporters following her son's plea deal last year that he wanted to pursue a career in law.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Fish noted how much Waring had matured over the past couple of years. The judge said the defendant's change in personality likely corresponded with sobering up.

"I think you've matured a lot," Fish told Waring. "A lot of that, if we're being honest, is you're not on methamphetamine."

Fish added, "It is like there's two Josh Warings."