Court Watch: Judge Reduces Felony Vandalism, Prioritizes Treatment Despite Prosecution Objection
Judge Maria D. Hernandez, presiding at the Newport Beach Harbor Justice Center, reduced a felony vandalism charge to a misdemeanor, overruling objections from the prosecution. The ruling followed arguments by Deputy Public Defender Katherine J. Robison, who asserted the charge did not align with the offense’s nature or the accused’s personal circumstances, citing California Penal Code 17(b) and presenting evidence of the accused’s treatment efforts.