FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2021
CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org – (628)249-7946
**PRESS RELEASE**
SF Jury Acquits Young Woman of Child Endangerment and Reckless Driving
SAN FRANCISCO – Deputy Public Defender Latisha McCray won an acquittal for her 20-year-old client who was pulled over for speeding on the Bay Bridge last August. Rather than ticketing her, CHP arrested her and she was booked into SF County Jail. She was later charged with two misdemeanors for reckless driving and child endangerment, as her friend and passenger in the car was 16 years old.
Video evidence showed that she did not cause any disruption on the bridge, and both the driver and the passenger had their seatbelts fastened. There was very little traffic on the bridge at the time due to the pandemic and the late time of day.
“Our client should have never been arrested nor charged criminally. This is a case that should have, at worst, gone to traffic court,” said San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju. “Something of this nature never should have been taking up space in criminal court, which is currently impacted by an enormous backlog of cases due to the pandemic. I am proud of Ms. McCray for her advocacy in this case.”
“My client was not willing to take a bad deal on a case that grossly overcharged her, nor accept the conditions of a settlement which could have marred her record and impacted her career aspirations. I am glad that the jury understood that she was not guilty of the charges,” said Deputy Public Defender McCray.
