By Jack Sandmeyer
WOODLAND, CA – Judge Stephen Mock of the Yolo County Superior Court sent a woman back to county jail Tuesday for possible drug use while under supervised own recognizance/no bail release from custody.
The accused is currently being charged with one felony count for two or more instances of organized retail theft with a prior felony conviction back in December of 2021.
On Nov. 22 of this past year, Judge David Rosenberg granted an OR release to the accused with a stated condition: “Stay away from and out of Home Depot and Lowes.”
The intention of a pre-hearing conference on Tuesday morning was quickly superseded by the request from the Yolo County Probation Office to remand the accused for possible drug use while under SOR.
The two-page report on the request to remand was initially challenged by the defense that insisted the accused has been in compliance with all court mandates and therefore shouldn’t be required to take a drug or alcohol test.
The defense additionally maintained the request to remand the accused had no merit since the accused had not previously been asked to perform a drug or alcohol test while under SOR.
After reading the report, Judge Mock questioned the position of the probation office. The office’s representative responded to Mock’s inquiry by requesting “[the accused] be remanded into custody in order for her to get some claim time as well as receive proper prenatal services.”
The offering of both time and the services come as a factor of the accused’s ongoing pregnancy.
The defense argued the accused has followed the stated conditions of SOR along with the directions of the court and should not be subject to the “questionable” request of the probation department.
The defense followed this argument with the possibility of a potential agreement that would require the accused to attend narcotics anonymous meetings in lieu of being remanded at this time.
While the case information for the accused showed no indication of a drug/alcohol restriction, Judge Mock ultimately ruled that if the defendant were to be considered in violation of the terms of her SOR, the request by the probation office would be valid.
Upon ordering the accused to perform a required drug test, the accused admitted the test would come back positive. Following this revelation, Judge Mock ruled that the accused be sent back to county jail.
The next scheduled court date will be decided on this upcoming Thursday, Jan. 5.