Moore v. Superior Court CA3 ( 2024 )

Filed 5/23/24 Moore v. Superior Court CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Sacramento)
----
ANGEL MOORE, C100703
Petitioner, (Super. Ct. No. 23FE018104)
v.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SACRAMENTO
COUNTY,
Respondent;
THE PEOPLE,
Real Party in Interest.
This petition for writ of mandate by Angel Moore challenges a March 6, 2024
decision by respondent Sacramento County Superior Court denying bail. Petitioner
claims respondent court erred in denying her bail because she does not fall within any of
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the exceptions to the general right to bail set forth in article I, section 12 of the California
Constitution (section 12). We agree.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On March 6, 2024, petitioner was arraigned on a second amended complaint
charging her with being an accessory after the fact in violation of Penal Code section 32.
Following her arraignment, respondent court conducted a bail review hearing. The court
denied petitioner’s request for pretrial release or, alternatively, for bail in the amount of
$25,000, and ordered that her bail remain set at no bail, finding that although she was
eligible for bail, her “risk of nonappearance outweighs such eligibility.” The court
further found by “clear and convincing evidence that no less restrictive conditions, short
of detention, will suffice.”
On May 3, 2024, this court advised the parties that it was considering issuing a
peremptory writ of mandate in the first instance and provided additional time to file any
further opposition. (See Palma v. U.S. Industrial Fasteners, Inc. (1984) 36 Cal.3d 171.)
None was received within the time provided.
DISCUSSION
Petitioner claims she is entitled to bail based on section 12. Section 12 provides in
relevant part: “A person shall be released on bail by sufficient sureties, except
for: [¶] (a) Capital crimes when the facts are evident or the presumption great; [¶] (b)
Felony offenses involving acts of violence on another person, or felony sexual assault
offenses on another person, when the facts are evident or the presumption great and the
court finds based upon clear and convincing evidence that there is a substantial likelihood
the person’s release would result in great bodily harm to others; or [¶] (c) Felony
offenses when the facts are evident or the presumption great and the court finds based on
clear and convincing evidence that the person has threatened another with great bodily
harm and that there is a substantial likelihood that the person would carry out the threat if
released.”
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Petitioner does not fall within any of the exceptions set forth in section 12.
Accordingly, we find she is entitled to bail consistent with the reasoning of the court in
In re Kowalczyk (2022) 85 Cal.App.5th 667, review granted March 15, 2023, S277910,
which holds that persons who do not fall within any of the exceptions set forth in section
12 are entitled to bail. (Kowalczyk, at pp. 684-685.)
DISPOSITION
Having complied with the procedural requirements for issuance of a peremptory
writ in the first instance, we are authorized to issue a peremptory writ forthwith and
without oral argument. (See Brown, Winfield & Canzoneri, Inc. v. Superior Court (2010)
47 Cal.4th 1233, 1243-1244; Palma v. U.S. Industrial Fasteners, Inc., supra, 36 Cal.3d at
p. 178.) Let a peremptory writ of mandate issue directing the Sacramento County
Superior Court to: (1) vacate its March 6, 2024 ruling denying petitioner bail; and (2)
hold a new bail hearing consistent with the procedures described in In re Humphrey
(2021) 11 Cal.5th 135, which sets forth the relevant factors the court must consider in
determining bail. (Id. at pp. 152-156.) This opinion shall become final immediately
upon filing. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.490(b)(2)(A).)
/s/
ROBIE, Acting P. J.
We concur:
/s/
MAURO, J.
/s/
MESIWALA, J.
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