Could Becoming Famous Make an Old Dismissed California Case Resurface?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
If I became a famous rapper, would people see what I said to the police from a misdemeanor case that was dismissed through diversion? I broke my mom's phone while she was calling 911. We talked about our argument, and I admitted to it. Five minutes later, I lied and said she had hit the dogs the last time the police came. Will people see that statement if I become a famous rapper?
Attorney Answer
Becoming famous does not change the legal status of a dismissed, diverted case, and there are real steps you can take now to make old records harder to find regardless of what happens with your career. When a misdemeanor is resolved through diversion and later dismissed, California law generally treats it as if the arrest did not happen for most purposes, such as job applications. But court and arrest records are not automatically erased just because a case was dismissed, so they can still technically exist in public systems unless you take an extra step to seal them.
The main thing you can control is sealing the record. California allows people to petition to seal an arrest that did not result in a conviction, including cases resolved through diversion, under Penal Code section 851.91. Sealing does not guarantee that nothing ever surfaces, since old news mentions or records outside the court system are not covered, but it is the strongest legal tool available, and it is worth pursuing regardless of whether fame is part of your future.
On the statement about the dogs, an admittedly false statement to police is a separate concern from the phone incident itself. If it was never charged, it generally cannot be prosecuted now once California's one year deadline for filing a new misdemeanor has passed, under Penal Code section 802, but the exact timing matters, and this is worth discussing privately and honestly with a defense attorney rather than guessing.
Practical steps:
1. Talk to a California criminal defense attorney about filing a petition to seal your dismissed arrest record. 2. Be honest with that attorney about the full timeline, including the statement about the dogs, so they can tell you clearly whether it carries any remaining risk. 3. Do not discuss the details of either statement publicly, including online, since public statements can resurface even when court records are sealed.
Fame does increase how much attention people pay to someone's past, but it does not create new legal exposure by itself. What matters is what is actually in the public record and what you say about it going forward.
This is general legal information, not legal advice. A California criminal defense attorney can review your case file and tell you exactly what sealing would and would not accomplish for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does a dismissed diversion case show up on a background check?
Generally, arrests that did not lead to a conviction are restricted from most standard employment background checks, but the record can still exist in court systems unless you get it sealed, so sealing is the more complete solution.
How do I get an old arrest record sealed in California?
You generally file a petition with the court in the county where the arrest happened, and if the case did not result in a conviction, the court can order it sealed. A local criminal defense attorney can prepare and file this for you.
Could I still get in trouble for the false statement about the dogs?
If it was never charged, California's one year deadline for filing new misdemeanor charges has likely already passed, but the exact date matters. Discuss the specific timeline privately with an attorney rather than assuming either way.
