People v. Valencia (Cal. Ct. App., Mar. 10, 2026, No. B338672) 2026 WL 672932, at *1 Summary: Valencia, under the influence of methamphetamine and cocaine, drove his pickup truck and would not comply with police orders to pull over. Police chased Valencia until he crashed into a parked car. Valencia…
THE PEOPLE, Petitioner, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Respondent; JOB URIAH TAYLOR, Real Party in Interest. (Cal. Ct. App., Mar. 5, 2026, No. B346062) 2026 WL 622265 Summary: Penal Code section 1001.36 authorizes a court to grant pretrial diversion to a defendant with a qualifying mental disorder…
People v. Morgan (Cal., Feb. 26, 2026, No. S286493) 2026 WL 533311, at *1–2 Summary: During a confrontation with law enforcement, Morgan aimed a firearm at police officers, “racked” its slide, and pulled the trigger. The weapon did not discharge and when officers eventually recovered it, it was unloaded. Defendant…
People v. Flores (Cal. Ct. App., Feb. 11, 2026, No. A171602) 2026 WL 378414, at *1 Summary: Flores pleaded no contest to felony possession of fentanyl for sale and was sentenced to two years of formal probation with a condition permitting warrantless searches of Flores’s electronic devices. On appeal, Flores…
People v. Zapata (Cal. Ct. App., Feb. 10, 2026, No. D084024) 2026 WL 366837, at *1 Summary: A “Perkins operation” is when an undercover operative is placed in a cell with the suspect to obtain information from the suspect. The term derives its name from Illinois v. Perkins (1990) 496…
People v. Heaps (Cal. Ct. App., Feb. 2, 2026, No. B329296) 2026 WL 266465, at *1–4 Summary: The Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel applies in state criminal trials. (Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) 372 U.S.) That right is violated when a judge communicates with a jury during deliberations “without affording defendant…
RICHARD LOUIS BROWN, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, Defendant and Respondent. (Cal. Ct. App., Jan. 30, 2026, No. C102554) 2026 WL 251816, at *1–2 Facts: Department of Motor Vehicles (Department) temporarily suspended Brown’s driver’s license after conducting a driver reexamination initiated by an undisclosed third-party reporter. Brown…
LOS ANGELES POLICE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. CITY OF LOS ANGELES et al., Defendants and Appellants. (Cal., Jan. 21, 2026, No. S275272) 2026 WL 171531, at *1–4 Summary: California requires law enforcement agencies to investigate complaints against peace officers. (See Pen. Code, § 832.5, subd. (a)(1).) Penal Code…
THE PEOPLE, Petitioner, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Respondent; HAILEY MORGAN LASHELLE, Real Party in Interest. (Cal. Ct. App., Jan. 9, 2026, No. E086512) 2026 WL 73966, at *1–4 Summary: Lashelle (defendant) was charged by Petitioner Riverside County District Attorney’s office (the People) with misdemeanor driving under the…
People v. Aguilar (Cal. Ct. App., Jan. 2, 2026, No. D083172) 2026 WL 17897, at *1 Summary: Aguilar was convicted by a jury of multiple offenses for his involvement in a shootout with San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officers. Before trial, the People exercised a peremptory challenge to strike a…