Judge M. Mark Kelly ruled in favor of the prosecution’s request to introduce an alleged prior uncharged incident in the retrial of a single count of alleged sexual assault, despite defense objections citing Evidence Codes 1108 and 1101.
A Yolo County Superior Court judge granted mental health diversion in a felony firearm case, despite the prosecution’s objection, due to the accused’s mental health diagnosis and the lack of infrastructure in prison to care for people with mental illness.
A Newport Beach judge denied a request to reduce fines for a nursing student who pleaded guilty to DUI, ruling that a payment plan would make the financial penalty manageable despite her limited income.
A Yolo County Superior Court judge denied a Penal Code 991 motion and an own-recognizance release request for an accused due to her criminal history and risk factors, citing her violations of probation and use of alcohol, as well as her history of arson and false imprisonment.
A man was sentenced to three years in state prison for larceny and a wobbler offense after pleading guilty in Newport Beach court, with the judge denying bail and the defense offering no objections to the sentence.
A man with schizophrenia was remanded to custody and set bail at $10,000 after being denied reentry into a mental health facility and charged with felony vandalism, despite arguments from the defense and probation officer that he should receive mental health treatment.
A man was sentenced to 180 days in county jail after failing to provide documentation showing he completed required courses, despite his claim that he was never told to return to court with proof.
An accused individual was ordered to pay the remaining balance of victim restitution and $265 in fines, as well as complete 40 hours of community service, before his case can be formally resolved.
A Yolo County Superior Court judge denied a motion to release a man accused of grand theft on his own recognizance, citing his lengthy criminal history and repeated parole violations, and ordered him to remain in custody.
Judge Gerard expressed frustration with the accused’s lack of attendance at court-mandated alcohol program meetings, citing the need to follow court orders, and set bail at $5,000 for each count and a reevaluation date of Feb. 26.
A Sacramento County Superior Court judge denied an accused man’s request for release on his own recognizance pending trial on a petty theft charge, citing his prior felony history and failures to appear as indicators that he would not comply with court orders.
A Yolo County judge denied a request to release an individual charged with petty theft and trespassing, ruling that a newly filed competency report did not warrant a change in custody status.
A judge in Orange County set $5,000 bail for a man who has been in jail for seven months, raising questions about the fairness of cash bail in the court system.
A Yolo County judge denied a request to release a homeless caretaker charged with felony petty theft, citing a history of failing to appear and repeated probation violations, and set bail at $10,000.
Judge Gregg L. Prickett denied the protected party’s request for limited contact between the accused and her daughter, maintaining strict restrictions while reinstating formal probation and allowing only phone calls.
Deputy Public Defender Kate Robinson objected to a protective order in a DUI injury case, arguing it was too restrictive and prevented her from effectively representing her client, delaying the setting of a new pretrial date.
A man facing two misdemeanor charges was denied release during a competency hearing in Yolo County Superior Court, preventing him from accessing mental health treatment outside of jail, despite the fact that his doctor had diagnosed him with bipolar disorder with psychotic features and he had refused to take his medication while in custody.
Judge Richard Pacheco heard multiple cases involving people struggling with substance use disorder, highlighting the challenges courts face in balancing accountability, treatment and public safety, while research shows that social networks and environmental factors significantly predict relapse.
Federal Public Defenders Rebecca Abel and Kyra Nickell successfully defended a client accused of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during an immigration protest, marking their sixth trial involving alleged protest-related violence tied to immigration enforcement.
A Sacramento County Superior Court judge sentenced an accused woman to 67 days in county jail for failing to complete court-ordered community service, despite her claims that she was turned away from service sites due to a documented disability.