By Tommy Nguyen
VENTURA, CA – During her arraignment hearing this past Thursday in Ventura County Superior Court, the accused waived arraignment and entered a guilty plea for her felony charge.
The accused was charged with a felony of taking a controlled substance into jail, and three other misdemeanors involving the possession of controlled substances and tear gas.
In the end, though, the court apparently found a way to get help for the accused rather than jailing her and throwing away the key.
Public Defender Matthew Benitez began the hearing with the new agreed-upon disposition for the accused. There was a change of plea to the guilty plea for the only felony count.
The new disposition includes six months in a residential treatment program, a balance on mandatory supervised probation of 18 months. The accused is currently “working toward prototype,” said her attorney, Efan Wu, who is working with the sentencing specialists” to have the treatment program lined up.
Judge Patricia Murphy then ordered Deputy District Attorney David Russell to arraign the accused for her plea, advising the accused of her rights and maximum penalties. A Harvey waiver, regarding considering dismissed counts in sentencing, was also taken.
Regarding the misdemeanor counts, the prosecutor said it was the “People’s intention to dismiss them in light of the guilty plea and the Harvey waiver, which allows the court to still consider them in crafting the terms of the accused’s mandatory supervision release.”
The accused’s next sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11. 
