Mendocino DA’s Office Surprised at Judge’s Decision to Reduce Felony Jury Verdict to Misdemeanor in Domestic Violence Case
Press release from the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office:
A Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned from deliberations Thursday with a guilty verdict against the trial defendant.
Defendant Vickie Bell, age 56, of Crescent City, was found guilty by jury verdict of a felony violation of assault with a deadly weapon.
However, after the jury was excused, Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Keith Faulder invited a motion from the defense that the judge downgrade the jury’s verdict by reducing it to a misdemeanor.
When that motion was eventually made, Judge Faulder granted the motion and reduced the felony verdict over the prosecutor’s objection.
The defendant was then placed on a grant of informal probation. The defendant was given credit for two days jail time she had originally served. No additional jail time was ordered.
This was the same disposition that the judge had offered the defendant before the trial over the prosecution’s objection. The defendant refused the judge’s proposed misdemeanor disposition, a defense rejection that required that this week’s jury trial occur.As background, just before 6 a.m. in the early morning hours on Nov. 1 of last year, the Ukiah Police Department responded to a 911 domestic violence call from a Mulberry Street residence.
On arrival, the officers found a man suffering from a chest wound. It was determined that the angry defendant had either thrown or plunged scissors into the man’s left chest/shoulder area.
The UPD officers immediately began first aid until the ambulance crew arrived. The man was then transported to and treated at UVMC. It was determined that the man’s chest wound from the scissors was approximately one inch deep. It was reported that the defendant was angry because the man had been playing video games against her wishes.
The investigating law enforcement agency was the Ukiah Police Department.
The prosecutor in the case was Deputy District Attorney Jamie Pearl.
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Judge is obviously bored with his responsibilities and should step down
Will this judge have to run for reelection?
Whoa, it’s a good thing she was wearing a mask and only “plunged scissors into a MAN’s chest”. Gotta keep those priorities in check.
Thanks Zero.
Ugh….No comment!!!
An older woman flips out because someone is playing video games and she’s upset. Well, why wouldn’t the correct course of action be to grab the nearest sharp instrument and stab the victim. Really the judge, Faulder, drops a jury trial verdict of guilty. After the expense of a trial, jury selection, time and energy from both sides to present the case; all one has to do is whine as they didn’t beat the rap, and ask to have what this egotistical judge offered prior to trial. Domestic abuse knows no age or gender. Boo on judge interfering. What a precedent he has set. What she now has is literally nothing to show she’s an abuser.