People v. Jay CA6

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Between March and May 2023, police repeatedly responded to reports that Jay committed various acts of physical abuse against a woman. The woman alleged Jay’s acts included striking her in the face, repeatedly choking and suffocating her, and threatening to kill her. Jay pleaded no contest to all eight counts alleged in the information: two counts of making criminal threats (Pen. Code, § 422, subd. (a); counts 1, 6)1; four counts of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (a)(4); counts 2, 3, 5, 7); false imprisonment (§ 236; count 4); and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, cohabitant, former spouse, or former cohabitant (§ 273.5, subd. (a); count 8). Jay admitted four aggravating circumstances regarding these counts (§ 1170, subd. (b)), and he admitted he had sustained a prior strike conviction (§§ 667.5, subd. (c), 1192.7, subd. (c)). Jay’s pleas were not entered pursuant to a plea agreement; he pleaded no contest and made his admissions without any agreement as to what sentence would be imposed. Before accepting Jay’s pleas, the trial court discussed plea negotiations that had taken place and Jay’s…