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.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office has released its annual fiscal outlook for the 2026-27 state budget, warning of a difficult financial environment and limited ability to manage spending shortfalls, with Medi-Cal costs projected to rise significantly and counties warning of potential service cuts.
Yolo County voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition 50 in the Nov. 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election, with 69.09% voting “yes” and 30.94% voting “no”, and the Elections Office is in the final stages of verifying votes.
The court ruled that an ignition interlock device was a more appropriate alternative to SCRAM alcohol monitoring, due to the financial and employment burden it would place on the accused, and ordered the accused to attend AA and the Alive at 25 program.
Assistant District Attorney Ana Gonzalez argued that the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office improperly declared itself unavailable to take on more cases, while Assistant Chief Attorney Hadi Razzaq defended the office’s staffing decisions and argued that the crisis is an emergency.
A woman with a history of theft and drug offenses was denied bail and will remain in custody on a felony shoplifting charge, with the court continuing the arraignment to Nov. 24 and ordering Pretrial Services to evaluate her for treatment-based supervision options.
Judge Clara Levers denied the defense’s request for the accused to be released on supervised own recognizance, citing concerns about public safety and the accused’s “acute break from reality”.
Winters, California has seen a decade of rising housing costs and stagnant wages, resulting in an increase in homelessness and a need for local infrastructure and sustained attention to address the issue.
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office’s inability to take on many new cases has led to a public defense crisis, which could have been avoided with earlier collaboration between the Public Defender’s Office and the Conflicts Panel, according to the court program representative.
A Yolo County jury ruled in favor of former Yolo Food Bank Executive Director Michael Bisch, awarding him over $3.3 million in damages for wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation, breach of contract, and defamation.
The Yolo County Planning Commission is considering a permit application to extend deep pit gravel mining across more than 500 acres of the Cache Creek floodplain, which is a FEMA-designated floodway, raising concerns about the potential for catastrophic flooding and the need for a climate-smart alternative to the current plan.
A woman was improperly placed on parole despite pleading to an offense not eligible for state prison or CDCR supervision, leading a Yolo County judge to lift the parole hold and order her release.
Tre Kenneth Clay, a father accused of murdering his two-month-old son, Elijah Clay, faced a preliminary hearing in Solano County Superior Court, where expert witnesses testified that medical evidence points to natural causes rather than trauma in the baby’s death.
Judge Tom Dyer postponed a habeas corpus case in Yolo County Superior Court due to a lack of discovery and difficulty communicating with the accused, rescheduling it for December 5, 2025.
Judge Catherine Hohenwarter ordered a hold on the accused in Yolo County Superior Court, despite defense objections and mitigating factors, after Deputy Sheriff David Coronado testified that the accused had inflicted corporal injury on a cohabiting partner and battery against a cohabiting partner.
Judge Carlton P. Biggs granted a man convicted of driving under the influence an alternative sentence of 120 days in the MOST program due to medical concerns, after the jail twice refused to pre-book him.
A man charged with first-degree murder in Yolo County Superior Court had his motion to reduce the charge denied, with the prosecution arguing that he acted with premeditation and malice.
Deputy Public Defender Stephen Betz requested a mental health diversion hearing for an accused facing several felony charges be rescheduled to Nov. 17, 2025, due to the extensive briefings required and the court’s busy calendar.