Sillas

People v. Sillas

Good Law
100 Cal. App. Supp. 4th 1·123 Cal. Rptr. 2d 340
Supreme Court of CaliforniaMay 29, 2002BR 41430California973 words

Opinion

Opinion

The order of the court dismissing the action is reversed.

Plaintiff and appellant, the People of the State of California, appeal from the trial court's order dismissing the complaint filed against respondent Roberto Sillas for violations of Penal Code section 273.5, subdivision (a) (inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, two counts), Penal Code section 136.1, subdivision (b) (dissuading a witness), and Penal Code section 591 (causing injury to a phone line).

Respondent was alleged to have committed the actions described in the complaint on September 8 and 9, 1999. The complaint was filed on October 18, 2000, more than one year but less than three years later. Respondent filed a motion to dismiss based on a one-year statute of limitations for misdemeanors. The trial court granted the motion.

Appellant contends that the applicable statute of limitations for the charged offenses is controlled by Penal Code section 805, subdivision (a), which provides for a period of three years, not one year, and that the complaint was timely filed.

Respondent asserts that the applicable code section is Penal Code section 17, subdivision (b)(4), which deems that a "wobbler" filed…

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