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Articles Posted in New Criminal Case Law

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Right to confront witnesses violated when computer monitors blocks defendant’s view of a witness

People v. Arredondo, 2019 WL 6834808 Supreme Court of California, S244166, December 16, 2019 John Arredondo was convicted of lewd acts on child under age 14, lewd act on child under age 16, oral copulation with a child under age 14, and sexual penetration with child under age 14 and…

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Driver did not waive doctor-patient privilege by admitting he was on medication

Fish v. Superior Court of San Diego County, 2019 WL 6337434 (Cal.App. 4 Dist.) (Cal.App. 4 Dist., 2019) Synopsis: Mason Fish, charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated filed a petition seeking to prevent trial court from reviewing his psychotherapy treatment records and to require trial court to grant his…

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Certificate of probable cause not needed to appeal court’s failure to strike mandatory felony enhancements before SB 1393 enacted

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. CHARLES PATRICK ELLIS, Defendant and Appellant., 2019 WL 7161342 (Cal.App. 5 Dist.) (Cal.App. 5 Dist., 2019)  SB 1393 gives trial courts discretion to strike five-year prior serious felony enhancements On January 1, 2019, Senate Bill No. 1393 amended Penal Code sections 667, former subdivision…

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Evidence of mitigation for youthful offenders ordered by Court of Appeal

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. KEANDRE DION WINDFIELD et al., Defendants and Appellants. (Cal. Ct. App., Dec. 20, 2019, No. E055062) 2019 WL 6974388 Facts: Defendants Harquan Johnson and KeAndre Windfield were each convicted of one count of murder and one count of attempted murder, and assault with a…

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Defendant must pay funeral expenses for his victim who died during a fight

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. TYRON JACOB TROUT-LACY, Defendant and Appellant. (Cal. Ct. App., Dec. 13, 2019, No. C1882419) 2019 WL 6816928 Summary: Tyron Jacob Trout-Lacy (defendant) fought with his victim, who was high on methamphetamine and had heart disease. Trout-Lacey punched the victim in the face multiple times…

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Police need a warrant to enter a home when shots are fired in a high crime area

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. ADAN RUBIO, Defendant and Appellant. (Cal. Ct. App., Dec. 12, 2019, No. A152455) 2019 WL 6797405 Summary: Police may not break down a door and enter an apartment when the owner refuses to invite them in to investigate after shots were fired in a…

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Police may seize a dashboard camera without a warrant after an accident

People v. Tran, 2019 WL 5958335 (Cal.App. 4 Dist.) (Cal.App. 4 Dist., 2019) Background: Robert Tran was convicted of reckless driving, in violation of Vehicle Code section 23103, subdivision (a) and was sentenced to three years’ probation with 30 days in custody. Tran appealed the trial court’s denial of his…

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Franklin Proceedings available to juvenile lifers sentenced after People v. Franklin (2016) was decided.

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff & Respondent, v. MICHAEL DAMION JUDE MEDRANO, Defendant & Appellant, No. E070042, 2019 WL 4894333 (Cal. Ct. App. Oct. 4, 2019) Medrano sentenced to life at age 19 Michael Damion Jude Medrano was 19 years old when he committed the crimes of one count of first degree…

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California Court of Appeal Rules Possession of Burglary Tools Includes Constructive Possession

People v. Bay, 2019 WL 4564854 (Cal.App. 1 Dist.), 1 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., 2019) The Stop and Search A Napa County Sheriff’s deputy was on patrol at 2:00 a.m. on September 9, 2017, when he noticed a Cadillac SUV parked illegally near a popular overlook. The deputy approached and saw…

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Parole Hearing Transcripts Are Not Part of Record of Conviction in SB 1437 Hearings

Felony Murder Rule Changed by SB 1437 Senate Bill No. 1437 revised the felony murder rule in California.  Under the felony murder rule, someone who aided and abetted an underlying felony was strictly liable for murder if a co-participant killed someone during the commission of the felony (People v. Cavitt…

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