County of Orange v. Ranger Insurance
Opinion
Opinion
Sonenshine, J.
Ranger Insurance Company (Ranger) appeals the trial court’s order denying its motion to overturn a bail forfeiture ruling. Finding the motion was properly denied, we affirm.
I
Factual and Procedural Background
On September 1, 1995, Ranger, the surety for H & H Bail Bonds, posted a $25,000 bail bond to secure Ramiro Pineda’s release from custody pending criminal charges. A month later, Pineda pleaded guilty to six counts of selling narcotics and admitted having suffered two prior narcotics convictions. (Health & Saf. Code, §§ 11352, subd. (a), 11370.2, subd. (a).) However, because Pineda, a Mexican national, failed to appear for sentencing, the court ordered his bail forfeited. Notice of the forfeiture order was mailed to Ranger on November 6.
In April 1996, Ranger sent a letter to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office which states, “H & H Bail Bonds has detained, or will be detaining [Pineda] in the presence of local law enforcement in the jurisdiction which [he] is located. [^] This letter is to determine if there will be an extradition or if you, as the prosecuting agency, will not be able or has chosen not to, extradite.”