People v. American Surety Co. CA2/6

Filed 5/29/25 P. v. American Surety Co. CA2/

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION SIX

THE PEOPLE, 2d Civ. No. B338852 (Super. Ct. No. 23CV05612) Plaintiff and Respondent, (Santa Barbara County)

v.

AMERICAN SURETY

COMPANY,

Defendant and Appellant.

When a criminal defendant fails to appear at a required court appearance without sufficient excuse, the trial court is required to forfeit bail at that time. The criminal court here did not forfeit bail at the defendant’s initial failure to appear. The court later forfeited bail when the defendant again failed to appear. It then denied two identical motions to vacate forfeiture that raised the same issue—whether the court lost jurisdiction over the bond when it…