People v. Ortega CA4/1

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Ortega’s Past Domestic Violence Toward Jane Doe Over the course of several years, Ortega and Jane Doe were in an on- again, off-again intimate relationship, including living together. According to Jane Doe’s trial testimony, Ortega was violent to her on multiple occasions. At trial, Jane Doe described three specific incidents of violence occurring prior to the events for which Ortega was prosecuted in this action. Ortega was prosecuted and convicted for those three incidents. First, in September 2012, Ortega threw an iPad at Jane Doe, hitting her in the mouth. Second, in June 2014, while subject to a protective order against any negative contact with Jane Doe, Ortega punched Jane Doe in the

1 Unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to the Penal Code. 2 face and head and threatened to kill her. Finally, in July 2017, Ortega choked Jane Doe and then threatened to kill her. After that incident, Jane Doe obtained a protective order valid until December 2020 that required Ortega to stay away from her and have no contact with her. B. The Events Giving Rise to This Prosecution The incidents that gave rise to the…