People v. Booker CA1/4

DISCUSSION

Between January and November 2022, the People filed seven cases against Booker, charging her with approximately 20 misdemeanor and felony offenses ranging from petty theft to second degree robbery. We summarize only the most relevant portions of the procedural history relating to these cases. Based on her cognitive developmental disability, the trial court ordered Booker to participate in a diversion program pursuant to Penal Code section 1001.21 et seq. On July 7, 2023, however, Booker was discharged from her residential placement after stealing and using another resident’s credit card. On July 25, 2023, the court terminated Booker’s diversion as unsuccessful, based on its finding that Booker had only “very, very short stints of success,” notwithstanding the Regional

1 People v. Christiana was partly superseded by statute on

another point as explained in People v. Lameed (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 381, 396, footnote 3 [describing a subsequent amendment to section 1370 not at issue in this case]).

2 Center of the East Bay’s “extraordinary efforts” to get her on track. Having found Booker incompetent to stand trial, the court on August 21, 2023 ordered her to undergo…