People v. Roberts CA1/1

BACKGROUND

Roberts and Buckner’s Abusive Relationship Roberts and Buckner were law school classmates who began dating in 2019 when Buckner was pregnant and living with her mother. In 2021, Roberts and Buckner moved to an apartment complex in Pleasanton. In 1 January 2022, Buckner surrendered custody of her child; Buckner’s mother became the child’s guardian; and in February, a court ordered Roberts and Buckner to have no contact with either. At trial, copious evidence showed that Roberts controlled Buckner, isolated her from friends and family, and abused her verbally and physically. In August 2022, Buckner came to her mother’s house, where a doorbell camera showed her bandaged, with discolored eyes and face, crying. In June 2023, Buckner told her mother by phone that Roberts had beaten her up; that no one knew what he had been doing to her or had come to save her; and that she had left him, but had no money or place to stay. During the call, Roberts phoned Buckner, who became terrified and hung up. Two childhood friends described how Buckner stopped communicating with them, and how they saw Roberts control and isolate her, while Buckner showed great fear of him. In August 2022,…