Commissioner Joseph Dane sentenced several individuals to serve time for unlawful camping, while studies show that criminalizing homelessness is costly to taxpayers and fails to address the underlying causes of homelessness.
Judge Derek G. Johnson reduced bail for a defendant facing multiple financial-related felony charges, but questions remain about whether the accused can afford release despite the reduction.
Judge Carlton P. Biggs ordered an accused to resolve multiple program enrollment issues on her own or face possible jail time, despite her claims that administrative barriers and lack of notice hindered her compliance with court-ordered requirements.
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.
Judge Karen L. Robinson denied a request to reduce the $200,000 bail for an accused person facing multiple felony charges, citing the alleged conduct as a danger to the public and rejecting defense arguments that the accused could not afford bail.
Judge Gregg L. Prickett denied a motion to waive or reduce community service for an accused DUI, hit-and-run driver who presented medical documentation related to a herniated disc, stating that the accused should have informed the court earlier and that he must begin the community service process despite the injury.
An accused person pleaded with a judge to be released from jail in order to be present for the birth of their child and start a new job, but the judge denied the request and sentenced them to 25 days in jail.
Judge William S. Zidbeck denied a request by a new attorney to assume representation of an accused DUI driver who was not present in court, prompting a heated exchange with the appointed public defender and resulting in a bench warrant being issued for the accused.
Paul Gentile Smith, who was sentenced to life without parole for a 1988 torture-murder in Orange County, will be released in five years after prosecutorial misconduct undermined his conviction, marking another major consequence of the county’s long-running jailhouse informant scandal.
Judge Matthew Anderson extended the proof-of-enrollment deadline for an accused man with cognitive limitations to enroll in a court-ordered treatment program, despite the lack of assistance and the difficulty of finding online options in Riverside County.
Judge Carlton P. Biggs rejected the accused’s claim of financial hardship for not completing court-ordered domestic violence courses, but allowed an additional month to complete the program and recalled the outstanding warrant.
Judge Carlton P. Biggs denied a request for conditional release and set $20,000 bail for a foreign national facing DUI-related probation proceedings, citing the accused’s previous arrests and high blood alcohol content levels.
A judge reduced bail for a person facing misdemeanor and felony charges, but set it at a level that remains unaffordable, keeping the individual in custody despite arguments that he poses no flight risk.
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.