Ultimately, this was one the jury got right with a misdemeanor and it helped me change my perspective on marijuana cultivation moving forward. It is also a good example of how prosecution evolves over time with the law as it changes. Prosecutors are given a lot of discretion in filing, charging, settling, and trying cases on behalf of the People and as there are changes in the law, and continuing research into areas affecting crime we, adapt so that our discretion aligns with what society believes is a just outcome. The jury saw it here and I see it now.
#21 A trial Interrupted
The defendant in jury trial #21 was charged with vandalizing a correctional facility. He had ripped a large ADA guardrail off the wall of the jail and was yelling that he was going to "tear this mother fucker apart" if he didn't get moved from a solitary room back into the main line. He had…
#20 A Jury Trial That Changed Everything
The trial that forever changed my perspective of jury trials. From day one, I was told that my job as a prosecutor was not win, it was to seek justice. To do the right thing. To handle those things within my control, holding myself to the highest standard. In this trial I followed those rules, and the dragon won.
#18 No Jury Required.
For #18 we head back into the messy and chaotic world that is domestic violence. This case involved a female defendant who lived with the male victim and their child. At the time of the incident the pair lived together, but the victim slept in the living room and the defendant in the master bedroom…
#16: Girlfriends Don’t Always Take the Fall
Crime was afoot on Cherry Tree Lane. Ok, ok, ok, it wasn't Cherry TREE Lane, but crime was definitely afoot. #16 involved a surveillance operation by our Interagency Narcotic's Task Force. A search warrant was executed and the defendant, aka girlfriend, was home. Boyfriend had been locked up in jail for drug sales days before,…
#12 A “Who-Done-It” Jury Trial
Eye witness identification is a tricky thing. So many variables come into play that there is an entire jury instruction given. Things like: whether the witness knew the person, race, length of contact, stress of event, lighting conditions, proximity, suggestability of line up, and how closely the witness was paying attention are just a few…
#10 The Jury Trial where I Learned (the hard way) that My Instincts Matter
#10 was my first jury trial with significant media exposure. It involved a victim who went onto property that defendant was squatting at in Chico. He and his dog were attacked by the defendant with a knife and eventually chased off the property. The victim screamed for help as he ran away. One witness opened…
#7 The Jury Trial Where I Try to be Mean
When you are first learning how to be a trial lawyer you often get encouraged to try different techniques. It can be as simple as using a different method to introduce photos, or maybe using your body language and positioning to suggest important details as a witness testifies. Techniques also include your own tone as…
#6 The Court Trial Involving Puppies
Sometimes a defendant will waive their Constitutional Right to a jury trial and agree to have the case decided by a Judge. This happens for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is a complicated legal argument, or the case could involve some highly inflamatory facts and a defendant may be concerned about a jury's reaction.…
#5 The Jury Trial Involving Math
Jury Trial 5 went right back into the arena of DUI. At 12:56am the defendant ran a stop sign at the entrance kiosk to Loafer Creek campground in Oroville. A State Parks officer attempted to pull him over but defendant did not yield, instead he continued to drive outside of the campground and onto Hwy…
Hopelessly Devoted 