People v. Contreras CA1/1

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL

BACKGROUND

On the afternoon of April 20, 2024, Contreras and the victim, his girlfriend, gambled at a casino in Butte County.2 Contreras was upset with the victim because she would not share her winnings with him and then lost them all. As Contreras was driving them away from the casino, he told the victim to get out of his vehicle. She refused, because the vehicle was moving, and Contreras began hitting and kicking her. He then opened the passenger’s door and “produced an X-Acto knife and began slashing at the victim.” The victim pepper sprayed Contreras before he was able to force her out of the vehicle. When sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, the victim was “visibly upset and crying.” She had a large cut on her thumb that required stitches and other “lacerations” and “scratches” on her head and torso. Contreras was quickly located and arrested. He denied having a knife or hitting the victim, claiming she broke his vehicle’s windshield and “her injuries were self- inflicted.” Contreras was charged with felony counts of injuring a girlfriend and assault with a deadly weapon. It was also alleged as to both counts that he personally inflicted…