People v. Quintero CA6

I. BACKGROUND2

A. The 2014 Incident In 2014, Quintero and A.L. were married and lived together with A.L.’s two children from a previous relationship, then ages 13 and 17. On April 28, 2014, Quintero and A.L. got into an argument, after which A.L. left the family home with her 13-year- old daughter. The next day, A.L. drove back and asked her 17-year-old son to meet her. As A.L’s son walked to the car, Quintero approached in his truck. A.L. and the children fled in A.L.’s car but Quintero pursued. Both cars ended up in a Safeway parking lot where Quintero “rammed” his truck into the back of A.L.’s car. Quintero then drove the truck into the side of A.L.’s car. A.L.’s car became “stuck or connected” to Quintero’s truck, which initially prevented her from fleeing. Ultimately, A.L. was able to disengage and drive away, but Quintero continued to pursue A.L. around the parking lot until A.L. “screamed for help and begged a nearby witness to call 911.” When Quintero realized police were coming, he fled. B. The Plea The Santa Clara County District Attorney charged Quintero with one count of assault with a deadly weapon, a strike offense. (§ 245, subd. (a)(1) (section 245(a)(1)).)…