P. v. Cerda CA4/3
The Orange County District Attorney (district attorney) appeals the dismissal of a criminal prosecution against defendant and respondent Vanessa Cerda. The district attorney contends the trial court misinterpreted a previously assigned judge’s order granting a suppression motion brought by Cerda and her codefendant, Armando Verdin. In the earlier proceeding, Cerda and Verdin claimed the police illegally detained them and therefore the court should suppress all the evidence obtained from their detentions, including evidence found when officers later searched their apartments. Although the court granted the suppression motion, the parties disagreed on the scope of the suppression order. When the case was reassigned, the trial court interpreted the suppression order to include evidence found in Cerda’s apartment. Without that evidence the prosecutor could not proceed and the court dismissed the case.
Comments on P. v. Cerda CA4/3