(Woodland, CA) – May 29, 2020 – On May 28, 2020 two more individuals previously released from custody as a result of California Judicial Council’s Statewide Emergency “0” Bail Schedule were charged with new crimes. The “0” Bail Schedule became effective April 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Woodland man, Michael Ransom, age 37, has been charged with felony vandalism and looting by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. Ransom was arrested on May 11, 2020 on a charge of felony vandalism and was released that same day as a result of California Judicial Council’s Statewide Emergency “0” Bail Schedule. Ransom was again arrested on May 23, 2020 on charges of second degree burglary and looting. He remained in custody with bail set, as looting is one of the designated exceptions to the $0 bail rule. In enacting the Emergency Bail Schedule, the Judicial Council recognized that thefts committed during a state of emergency should be subject to bail.
On May 28, 2020, Ransom was arraigned on two separate complaints. The first alleging the May 11, 2020 vandalism and the second alleging a misdemeanor violation of looting from May 23, 2020. He entered not guilty pleas and was released on his own recognizance by the Honorable Peter Williams of the Yolo County Superior Court. Ransom’s next court date is July 6, 2020, in Department 7 of the Yolo County Superior Court for a Preliminary Hearing.
Woodland man, Richard Rodriguez, age 31, was also arraigned on May 28, 2020, on charges of robbery, felony domestic violence, and possession of drug paraphernalia from a May 24, 2020 arrest. Since March 30, 2020, Rodriguez has been arrested and released four times as a result of the Emergency “0” bail schedule. He has also been cited by patrol offices and released on five separate occasions. In a previous press release published on May 15, 2020 Richard Rodriguez was incorrectly named as Robert Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was arraigned on nine additional complaints which included charges felony attempted theft of a vehicle, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. Prior to the court closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rodriguez was already pending charges in 10 other misdemeanor cases. Bail was set in the amount of $50,000 on the felony. Rodriguez entered a not guilty plea and the matter is next set on June 8, 2020 in Department 12 of the Yolo County Superior Court for a Preliminary Hearing.
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