By Lauren Smith
SACRAMENTO – It’s called tough love, and maybe Judge Scott Tedmon provided that type of strong words of advice to a mother of a month-old son during an arraignment hearing Tuesday afternoon in Sacramento County Superior Court.
Charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon, defendant Mickayla Jones asked to be released or bail to be reduced—Assistant Public Defender Sameera Ali argued that bail should be reduced, or Jones should be released for multiple reasons, including lack of a prior record.
In addition, Ali stated that her client “just gave birth to a newborn two weeks ago [and] does need to get home to the baby.” Ali further stated to the court that the defendant “is not able to afford to 
post any bail at this time” due to the newborn baby and unemployment.
According to the summarized probable cause statement, the defendant was trying to leave an argument, taking her newborn son and placing him in a car seat. When she went back inside the residence to continue arguing with the alleged victim, she “grabbed a kitchen knife and cut [the victim] on the right side of the neck” giving him a “one-inch laceration.”
When police arrived on the scene, the victim stated he did not want to press charges and did not need medical attention or hospitalization.
Deputy District Attorney Rona Filippini asked for bail to remain as set at $50,000 “based on the fact that she used the knife and was attempting to cut” the victim.
After reading the probable cause statement and learning of the defendant’s one-month-old baby, Judge Tedmon offered strong words of advice: “I want you to understand something, I don’t know what happened or not, in this case. All I know is what is being alleged, but conduct just doesn’t affect the parties who are involved face to face. It involves and affects other people, including your one-month-old child.
“Children get one childhood, that’s all they get. You’re the mother of a one-month-old, and that child has the right to be raised in a proper environment. I want you to keep that in mind when you are making decisions in your relationships or with anyone for that matter,” he concluded.
The defendant broke down in tears, yet made it clear that she understood what the judge was saying.
Judge Tedmon decided to release Jones on certain conditions, including monthly office visits to pretrial services in order to monitor her behavior before her next court date on Dec. 22.
Lauren Smith is a fourth-year student at UC Davis, double majoring in Political Science and Psychology. She is from San Diego, California.
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