After Woman Allegedly Pulls Knife on BART Train, Judge and Prosecutor Have Doubt about Pretrial Release
By Alex Jimenez OAKLAND, CA – Despite a suspect’s clean criminal record, the prosecutor and judge here…
Judge Compliments ‘Compelling’ Defense Argument, Approves Motions to Dismiss and Reduce Felony Charge in Probation Violation Case
By Allison Hodge WOODLAND, CA – Judge Tom M. Dyer granted Joseph Lanoue’s petition for dismissal and…
Daughter of Goleta Mayor Held on $500K Bail after Alleged Attack on Ex-Boyfriend – Judge Won’t Set Her ‘Up to Fail’
By Casey Rawlings SANTA BARBARA, CA – Kirsten Perotte—the daughter of Paula Perotte, the current Mayor of…
Trio Accused of Stealing Catalytic Converters Released Pretrial – For Now; Can’t Talk to Each Other
By Stacie Guevara WOODLAND, CA – After being accused of stealing catalytic converters and committing a misdemeanor,…
Defendant Waiting for Mental Health Evaluation Pleads for Release by Court – Already in Custody for 90 Days
By Casey Rawlings SANTA BARBARA, CA – Defendant Paul Renae Santos had a court appearance in Santa…
Court Confusion: Man in Court, Supposed to be in Jail as Ordered
By Marcia Barajas SANTA MARIA, CA – Meddage Ruwan Cham Wimalasoma was in Santa Barbara Superior Court…
Man’s Mental Health Evaluation Postponed Because of Defective Jail Phone – His Attorney Calls It ‘Shocking and Infuriating’
By Casey Rawlings SANTA BARBARA, CA – David Howard Heaven appeared in Santa Barbara County Superior…
Man’s Felony Matter Reduced to Misdemeanor Probation – Prosecution Loses Argument
By Tatiana Gasca ALAMEDA, CA — Judge Sharon Djemal in Alameda County Superior Court, Dept. 110, struggled…
Judge Reduces Felony to Misdemeanor for Young Man Who Said He Plans to Join Military and Become a Doctor
By Stephanie Boulos SACRAMENTO, CA – Matthew Watt was in luck Tuesday when the presiding judge at…
Defendant Appears in Court Via Zoom – from Grocery Store?
By Stacie Guevara SACRAMENTO, CA – When Jerica Arroyo appeared in Sacramento County Superior Court, Dept. 84…
Defense Requests Felony be Reduced to Misdemeanor Because Client was in Wheelchair; Judge Declines Motion
By Sydney Kaplan SAN LEANDRO, CA – Public Defender Madelina Zepida argued here in an Alameda…
Judge Releases Mentally Incompetent Defendant after Case ‘Terms’ Out without Trial
By Beth Miller FRESNO, CA – Judge Carlos Cabrera here in Fresno County Superior Court this week…
Not a Crime Spree, but Defendant Will Do Time in Jail for Multiple Minor Offenses, Including False ID
By Natasha Pawar and Natalia Claburn WOODLAND, CA – A man was accused of pretending to be…
Defendant Dodges Traffic Stop, but Later Charged on Gun and Drug Counts
By Jacqueline Rodriguez SACRAMENTO, CA – Eric B. Murphy allegedly dodged a traffic stop, but when police…
Boyfriend Refuses Plea Deal, Faces Trial for Allegedly Hitting Longtime Girlfriend in Face
By Neha Malhi, Julietta Bisharyan and Alan Vargas SACRAMENTO, CA — After receiving an offer from the…
Defendant’s Plea for 2nd Chance Denied, Judge Orders Defendant to Go Back to Jail
By Priana Aquino, Sam Zou and Annette Wong-Toi SACRAMENTO, CA – Defendant Telsae Colleado appeared in Sacramento…
Sacramento Judge Denies Diversion for Misdemeanor DUI Cases Despite New State Law
By David M. Greenwald SACRAMENTO, CA – Under state law that took effect in January, the state…
Court Debates Definition of ‘Assault Firearm’ – Judge Eventually Rules Defendant Should Go to Trial, but Dismisses Other Felony
By Ankita Joshi SACRAMENTO, CA – The defense and prosecution had a heated deliberation here in Sacramento…
Dade Police Switch to Citations Rather than Arrests For Misdemeanors
One of America’s largest police forces says it’s drastically reducing the number of people it arrests during…
Man Found Guilty of Misdemeanor after Two Previously Hung Jury Trials And The Exclusion of A Previous Defense Witness
By Danielle Silva and Kyrah Coleman SAN FRANCISCO – A man has been found guilty of violating…
