A San Francisco Superior Court judge directed a medical expert to revise a competency evaluation after a public defender asserted the initial assessment failed to include the accused’s documented history of incompetency and prior hospitalization.
At the Newport Harbor Justice Center, Judge Antony C. Ufland granted a defendant court-initiated misdemeanor diversion, stipulating conditions including 20 hours of community service, restitution, and medication compliance. The court concurrently denied a defense request, presented by Public Defender Michael Morrison, to waive restitution fees despite arguments regarding the defendant’s financial hardship and treatment costs. Judge Ufland referenced legal precedents such as People v. Kopp and People v. Dueñas, affirming the court’s statutory requirement to impose restitution as part of the diversion terms.
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow issued a press release Tuesday threatening to withhold offers…