Judge William Lebov set bail for a man accused of a months-long vandalism spree allegedly driven by a delusional belief that the victim’s home was his own, despite pleas from the victim and arguments from the defense that the case involved a serious mental health crisis requiring evaluation.
The accused was placed on supervised own-recognizance release and ordered to report to probation on Friday, Dec. 26, and to Walter’s House on Monday, Dec. 29, after the judge honored the plea agreement and the accused had met the terms of the agreement.
The motion hearing for the accused in San Francisco County Superior Court was delayed due to the unavailability of an arresting officer, while the accused is taking steps to address their substance abuse issues.
Judge Dan Wolk ruled that Greg Zielesch’s first-degree murder conviction could not stand, but a second-degree murder conviction remains valid, as Zielesch aided and abetted in the implied malice murder of California Highway Patrol Officer Andy Stevens.
Judge Samuel McAdam terminated the supervised release of an unhoused man and issued a $10,000 warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court and lost contact with probation.
A Yolo County judge set bail at more than double the amount recommended under the county’s bail schedule, prompting defense objections that the figure was excessive and unsupported by the record.
Judge Paul K. Richardson ordered the accused to be hospitalized despite the recommendation of a licensed psychologist for outpatient treatment, citing the accused’s unpredictable behavior and lack of cooperation with the probation department.
A Yolo County judge denied the release of an accused man from custody in a felony assault case, citing serious medical concerns and the risk of flight, and set bail at $20,000.
Chief Attorney Matt Gonzalez argued in court that the judge has no authority to order the Public Defender’s Office to take on more felony cases, warning such an order would violate attorneys’ limits and clients’ constitutional rights.
A Yolo County Superior Court hearing was postponed due to the need for a Russian interpreter for the defendant, highlighting the importance of language access in the justice system.
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office argued that it does not have the capacity to take on additional felony cases due to excessive caseloads, and warned that any court order compelling it to do so would undermine supervision and risk constitutional violations.
The defense argued that the late disclosure of critical evidence in an eight-year-old DUI case violated the accused’s right to a speedy and fair trial, but the judge denied the motion to dismiss, citing the accused’s multiple bench warrants and participation in a diversion program.
At a preliminary hearing in Yolo County, the accused was found to have sufficient evidence to proceed with three domestic violence-related charges, despite defense arguments that the evidence was insufficient due to lack of verification of how the injuries were sustained.
A routine probation violation hearing in Yolo County revealed inaccuracies in court records, raising questions about the reliability of court documentation and the potential consequences for defendants.
A long-pending multi-defendant case in Yolo County Superior Court stalled on Wednesday as the defense and prosecution failed to agree on a trial date, with the defense proposing August 2026 and the prosecution May 2026.
A Yolo County Superior Court judge allowed lawful contact between the accused and his father after testimony showed that contact was welcome and part of the accused’s progress, rejecting the prosecution’s request to maintain a strict no-contact protective order.
Two Yolo County parents accused of child endangerment had their motion for judicial diversion denied due to the alleged conduct and statutory limits, and the case will now proceed through the standard criminal process.
A single father convicted in a DUI case in Newport Beach, CA, asked for more time to complete his court-mandated community service and alcohol education program, citing difficulty balancing work and childcare responsibilities.
Deputy Public Defender Erin Dacayanan argued that the court delayed justice for an accused individual who needs mental health diversion, but Judge Paul K. Richardson ruled not to release the accused, leaving them in jail and untreated for their mental illness.
After more than a year of litigation, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office has introduced a new theory in the prosecution of Carlos Reales Dominguez, suggesting that he may have been suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis rather than schizophrenia, despite the overwhelming weight of medical evidence pointing to schizophrenia.