by Silvia Ramos Medina
On the afternoon of August 7, 2014, with Judge David Rosenberg presiding, the preliminary hearing for Jesse Trillo took place. Deputy District Attorney Ryan Couzens and Deputy Public Defender Daniel Hutchinson were the counsel present in this matter.
Defendant Jesse Trillo is being charged with a felony violation of Vehicle Code section 2800.2, evading a peace officer and reckless driving.
Officer Evan Black walked into Department 4 as the People’s first witness. He testified that at approximately 2:10 pm he activated his emergency lights after noting a vehicle without front and rear license plates. He then stated he contacted dispatch to run the license plate of the vehicle, but DDA Couzens quickly interrupted him.
DDA Couzens asked him what information he had provided dispatch if there was no license plate. Officer Black then apologized for mistakenly stating he had provided dispatch with a license plate number. He corrected himself and stated he had simply notified dispatch that he prepared to pull over a “red sedan or red Toyota.”
Officer Black further declared that he activated his emergency lights on the defendant’s vehicle, but the defendant “continued east on Main Street until the intersection of Pioneer Avenue.” At this point, without signaling, the vehicle moved through three lanes and “made one fluid movement.” Following this maneuver, the defendant continued east against a red light.
“Can you describe the speed Mr. Trillo was traveling,” DDA Couzens asked.
“The speedometer was at about 50 mph.”
Officer Black declared that the defendant then got onto Southbound I-5. On the highway, Officer Black continued to follow Mr. Trillo.
DDA Couzens asked Officer Black if he had witnessed the defendant make any “erratic” movement on the highway.
“Only speed, nothing I would classify as erratic… We continued to provide information to dispatch.”
DDA Couzens asked Officer Black to clarify whom he referred to when he stated “we.”
The witness then clarified that there was a secondary unit or a second vehicle following the defendant. Officer Josh Amoruso drove the second vehicle and kept dispatch updated about the defendant’s speed.
“We continued to Sacramento International Airport.”
DDA Couzens queried Officer Black about the defendant’s lane changes on the freeway; he asked Officer Black if he would classify these lane changes as unsafe.
“I would classify them as unsafe, yes.”
“Did you notice movements from other vehicles?”
“Vehicles yielded as expected…as when you have your lights on.”
Judge Rosenberg interjected to ask Officer Black if the defendant signaled when he changed lanes.
“No.”
“Your honor, do you have other questions?” DDA Couzens asked Judge Rosenberg.
“No, it’s just something I wanted to know.”
DDA Couzens continued examining his witness. He asked Officer Black what happened at that point—at the Sacramento International Airport. Officer Black disclosed that the CHP continued the pursuit.
Officer Black also declared that, after the pursuit came to an end, Officer Turner transported Mr. Trillo to Yolo County Jail. However, Officer Black had also communicated with the defendant at the jail. After reading Mr. Trillo his Miranda rights, Mr. Trillo asked Officer Black “what he was charged with.” Officer Black told Mr. Trillo he was charged with felony evading of a police officer.
Mr. Hutchinson now cross-examined Officer Black.
He asked Officer Black if his car was equipped with a camera.
“No…the newer vehicles at the time were not equipped with a camera.”
“Was Officer Amoruso’s car equipped with a camera?”
“I don’t know.”
Mr. Hutchinson asked Officer Black if he had previously had contact with the defendant. Officer Black responded that he had not previously pulled over Mr. Trillo.
When asked if he had seen a temporary operating permit on the defendant’s back or front window, Officer Black said he did not remember seeing one.
Mr. Hutchinson asked Officer Black if he had stopped at the red light Mr. Trillo had run through.
“Objection. Irrelevance!” Mr. Couzens animatedly announced.
“Overruled,” Judge Rosenberg stated.
“No,” Officer Black responded to Mr. Hutchinson’s original question.
Mr. Hutchinson then followed with another question, but Judge Rosenberg informed him that his question would provide no useful information to the court.
Before transitioning to his next question, Mr. Hutchinson told Judge Rosenberg, “Mr. Couzens asked many questions that weren’t useful to the court.”
“So Officer Amoruso was behind you this entire time?” Mr. Hutchinson continued.
“No, only partially,” Officer Black responded.
Mr. Hutchinson asked Officer Black if he had heard a CHP officer say that, based on his observations, Mr. Trillo had committed a misdemeanor.
“No.”
“I have nothing further,” Mr. Hutchinson concluded.
“Redirect, Mr. Couzens?” Judge Rosenberg inquired.
“No, your honor.”
Then Mr. Hutchinson decided he had a few more question for Officer Black.
He asked Officer Black if he had read Mr. Trillo his Miranda rights when he communicated with him at the jail.
“Yes.”
Mr. Hutchinson asked Officer Black to recall what Mr. Trillo had said in response to him after learning he was being charged with a felony.
After shortly looking at his report, Officer Black stated that the defendant said to him, “How was I endangering other people?”
Next, Officer Turner, a Sacramento CHP officer, walked forward to testify. And Mr. Hutchinson prepared to question him.
“What time did you join the pursuit?”
“After 2 pm.”
Officer Turner testified he had joined the pursuit on Southbound I-5.
“Was there another vehicle behind you?”
“Yes, sir. My sergeant.”
Mr. Hutchinson asked Officer Turner if their cars were equipped with cameras.
“I know mine was. I don’t know about his.”
Officer Turner added that officer’s cars were typically equipped with cameras, but he was not sure about sergeants’ cars.
Judge Rosenberg momentarily interposed to ask Officer turner for clarification. He asked Officer Turner to clarify who had been involved with the pursuit. Officer Turner stated that the Woodland Police Department started the pursuit, then Woodland CHP continued it, and finally Sacramento CHP ended the pursuit.
As Mr. Hutchinson continued examining, Officer Turner said the defendant “made a few lane changes… probably no more than three. I’m not sure… He went around one spike strip.”
Mr. Hutchinson asked Officer Turner if he had seen the temporary operating permit on the defendant’s car.
“What I did see was a white piece of paper…typically we’re used to seeing numbers… I didn’t do inventory of the vehicle.”
“Did you speak to Officer Black?”
“I did not.”
“Were you present when Officer Coon spoke to Officer Black?”
“No.”
“Were you present when Officer Coon said Mr. Trillo made a misdemeanor violation?”
“No.”
Mr. Hutchinson asked Officer Turner if he knew the difference between a misdemeanor and felony violation in evading a peace officer.
“Objection. Irrelevance,” Mr. Couzens interjected.
“You know you should save this for motions or argument,” Judge Rosenberg told Mr. Hutchinson.
Mr. Hutchinson then announced he had nothing further and DDA Couzens began his cross-examination.
DDA Couzens asked if the highway had been closed when the officers deployed the spike strips.
“No.”
“Was there an abrupt lane change when he went around the spike strip?”
After Officer Turner explained that there was an abrupt lane change, DDA Couzens said, “The officer made a hand movement like an abrupt movement.” Judge Rosenberg replied, “Of course you’re going to abruptly around spikes.”
Following DDA Couzen’s last question, Mr. Hutchinson asked if the vehicle the defendant drove was stolen.
“No.”
The preliminary hearing reached arguments by counsel.
“I will reserve your honor,” DDA Couzens stated.
Mr. Hutchinson argued that this incident did not amount to a felony violation. He said there was speeding on Main, a red light violation, and “not very high speeding” on I-5.
“This is not a disregard for the safety of others… obviously he has an extensive criminal history and a strike…if he gets a felony, he will go to prison for a very very long time… for some reason he did not stop…. Bad conduct? Yes. But, I ask the court to lower to a misdemeanor.”
On behalf of his client, Mr. Hutchinson petitioned for a 17B motion: a reduction of a felony to a misdemeanor, pursuant to Penal Code section 17(b).
However, Judge Rosenberg maintained that going more than 30 or 40 mph on city streets with lights and sirens flashing had a lot of potential danger to the public.
“You can’t ignore the reality,” Judge Rosenberg stated.
Mr. Hutchinson responded, “The question is whether a it’s a misdemeanor or a felony…. this is something that will send him back to prison for twelve years or more.”
DDA Couzens argued that Mr. Trillo’s record included a “245” strike (pursuant to Penal Code section 245, assault with a deadly weapon—other than with a firearm).
“He has an extensive record… He didn’t stop voluntarily. He stopped because of the spikes deployed… a 17B would not be appropriate… 2800.2 evading police officer with reckless driving as a felony would be.”
Judge Rosenberg then concluded, “Mr. Trillo can’t escape his past… the felony…six prison priors…I find no basis to lower to a misdemeanor…17B motion denied.”
Jesse Trillo’s arraignment is set for August 22, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in Department 6.
Cameras should be required on police vehicles.
“However, Judge Rosenberg maintained that going more than 30 or 40 mph on city streets with lights and sirens flashing had a lot of potential danger to the public.”
30-40 mph on city streets!! How many Davisites have driven 30-40 mph on Covell, Anderson 5th, 8th, 14th, F, Poleline, Lake, Cowell, Lilard, and any number of other streets. This guy probably knew he had prior time in prison and was scared shitless because he knew with his record they would nail him with something and no matter what it was he would do time again. It seems he had been in prison on several occasions already and none of those were felony convictions except maybe the assault with a deadly weapon-other than with a firearm , otherwise he would have already had a 2nd strike. He appears to be a career petty criminal.
A second strike will double his sentence. If a $3.99 petty shoplifting of Tilimook cheese from Nugget gets a career petty criminal 12 years I would not be surprised if he gets at least 12 yrs for this. If he serves 10 of this it will cost the good taxpayers $50,000/year or a HALF MILLION DOLLARS to keep him from committing the heinous crime of driving 30-40 mph on city streets for the 10 year period that he is locked up.
What is wrong with this picture?
I am glad judge Rosenberg had the wisdom to see that this individual is a danger to society and showed disregard for the safety of the general public. Disregarding the rule of law and intentionally running a red light at high speeds clearly shows an individual is dangerous.
I have a hard time believing someone that has been to prison six
times is not dangerous.