Ross Mirkarimi's New Domestic Violence Complaint Could Loom Large in Pending Trial
Categories: Breaking News, Law & Order
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| While Ross Mirkarimi blinked, another accuser filed domestic violence charges |
And though the police report filed over the weekend by a woman accusing Mirkarimi of shaking her and pinning her against the wall comes years too late to initiate a potential prosecution -- it comes right in time for those already prosecuting the embattled sheriff.
In California, a statute of limitations of up to three years applies to domestic violence cases. Mirkarimi's most recent accuser claims he abused her sometime between June of 2007 and May of 2008. "Gone! Past the statute!" replied Burbank criminal defense attorney Michael Kraut without a moment's hesitation.
That may not have been the point, however. "I have nothing to gain from reporting this other than to notify the authorities of the history of violence Mirkarimi has toward women," the accuser told police. Authorities are not only notified -- they're fortified. Accusations of this sort can be used to bolster the current case proceeding against the sheriff.
"In order to be admissible to prove intent, the uncharged misconduct must be sufficiently similar to support the inference that the defendant 'probably harbored the same intent in each instance,'" wrote Jeremy Price, a staff attorney for the First District Appellate Project.
In this case, Mirkarimi -- who will face trial over allegations he bruised his wife's upper right arm in an argument -- is now accused by an alleged former girlfriend of bruising her upper right arm in an argument.
In addition to Section 1101(b), a second section -- 1109 -- specifically deals with "evidence of the defendant's commission of other domestic violence." Edward N. Ajlouny, a San Jose criminal defense attorney with a bevy of domestic violence experience, says that the code "doesn't put a lot of limitations" on what prosecutors may present in a domestic violence case. An allegation like the one filed yesterday against Mirkarimi, in Ajlouny's opinion, falls well within the bounds of what's normally fair game.
"Will they use prior evidence of domestic violence? Probably," he says. "It doesn't have to be proven conduct."
San Francisco District Attorneys could use this report to "show he did it before and has a 'woman problem,'" Ajlouny continued.
What the DA will do, with this and potential future reports, remains to be seen.
"At this point, because this is under investigation, we can't really go into the details," says Stephanie Ong Stillman, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney.
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