People v. Baghumyan CA1/1

BACKGROUND

On August 26, 2013, the San Francisco District Attorney filed a domestic violence felony complaint, alleging three counts (one felony and two misdemeanors). A preliminary hearing was held on September 6, and defendant was held to answer on the felony charge. On September 12, the district attorney filed a five-count information, charging defendant with stalking, criminal threats, two counts of misdemeanor battery and telephonic harassment. Defendant made a section 995 motion as to the stalking and criminal threat charges, based on the transcript of the preliminary hearing, on the ground defendant had made no unequivocal, immediate and specific threat. The district attorney opposed the motion, and the trial court denied it. Trial commenced on December 16. The prosecution called eight witnesses, including the victim, Sona Hovhannisyan. Hovhannisyan testified about her initial romantic relationship with defendant during September 2012, which ended a month later. Defendant nevertheless called her and eventually began leaving offensive voice messages after the relationship resumed in February 2013. Hovhannisyan tried to cut off further telephone contact with defendant in…