Update: April 8, 2022 @ 8:53 AM, Next Court date April 25, 2022 @ 1:30 PM and October 14, 2022 set for Jury Trial.
It’s now a Felony Case. Today 8:30 AM Courtroom 2A Hon. Judge Elizabeth Hill
21-SF-014538-A | The People of the State of California vs. Aldon Jacarus Ramon Smith
The question that remains unanswered by Candidate for re-election Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos is, what time on December 6, 2021 did the California Highway Patrol transport Aldon Smith to San Mateo County Jail? Why did you not provide the Residents of SMC with his Booking Photo and a Press Release of his DUI arrest. What happened with him for the missing 5 hours before he finally blew a BAC .288
The public has a right to know, this is a “Those Who Matter” case.
03/08/2022 Arraignment on Information after Preliminary Hearing Judicial Officer Hill, Elizabeth M.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE CASE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA VS. SCOTT LEE PETERSON, CASE SC055500A
FUTURE HEARING DATES:
Evidentiary Hearing:
Date: February 25, 2022 – March 4, 2022 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Location: 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063 Hall of Justice, 2nd Floor, Courtroom 2K Stream Audio of Hearing: Click to view Information (no video stream will be available)
MEDIA REQUESTS TO RECORD AUDIO/VIDEO OR FOR STILL PHOTOGRAPHY:
By order of the judge, audio and video recording of the proceedings is not permitted. In addition, recording and rebroadcasting of the audio of the proceedings is not permitted. Violation of this order of the Court is punishable as contempt pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1209.
The Court will permit the sketch artist to be present in the courtroom. The Court will make an announcement at the start of session daily as to the limitations on who/what may be sketched.
Sketch Artist – Vicki Behringer (Media outlets need to contract with her individually)
The Court will permit one pool photographer to be in the courtroom. The Court will make an announcement at the start of session daily as to the limitations on who/what may be photographed.
To submit your request to be the pool photographer you must email slind@sanmateocourt.org by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 23, 2022. The pool photographer will be selected at random from the names received by the Court. The Court will post the pool photographer selection to the Court’s website by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday February 24, 2022.
* The Court will make an announcement at the start of session daily as to whether or not counsel and witnesses will have to wear a mask while speaking throughout the proceedings.
PARKING ON FEBRUARY 25, 2022 – MARCH 4, 2022:
You may park your car for free in the public parking structure located at 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA in any spot labeled as Jury Parking. The spots for Jury Parking are labeled with purple signs.
You may park your Electronic News Gathering vans/Satellite News Gathering vans in the surface lot located at 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA behind the Regional Emergency Operations Center. You may only park where the signs say ‘Contractor Parking’ or ‘Boards and Commissions’. Please note that the surface lot is only accessible from Winslow Street.
MEDIA ACCESS TO THE FEBRUARY 25, 2022 – MARCH 4, 2022 HEARING:
There will be a live audio stream of the proceedings made available (link above). There will be no live video stream of the proceedings.
There will be two seats in the jury box dedicated to the media each day of the hearing. To request a seat, you must appear outside of the entrance to the courthouse between 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. to enter your name for a seat raffle. At 9:15 a.m. each day, the Court will announce from the courthouse steps who has been selected for the two seats. Note: Members of the media may coordinate amongst themselves to rotate who sits in the seats after the selection has been made. That will be left to your discretion. If there will be any rotation throughout the day, you will need to alert Sarah Lind so that the alternative person(s) may be provided a wristband in order to enter the courtroom.
* Members of the media may also enter the public seat raffle.
For those in the courtroom, please note: There is no audio or video recording allowed in the courtroom. The Court will make an announcement at the start of session daily as to the limitations on use of electronic devices to live Tweet, etc.
PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE FEBRUARY 25, 2022 – MARCH 4, 2022 HEARING:
There will be 6-8 seats dedicated to the public each day of the hearing. To request a seat, you must appear outside of the entrance to the courthouse between 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. to enter your name for a seat raffle. At 9:15 a.m. each day, the Court will announce from the courthouse steps who has been selected for the seats.
For those in the courtroom, please note: There is no audio or video recording allowed in the courtroom.
ACCESS TO CASE INFORMATION ON THE COURT’S PORTAL:
The Presiding Judge issued Standing Order 21-160 that allows remote access to public case information in the matter of The People of the State of California vs. Scott Lee Peterson, Case Number SC055500A. What this means is that you may now access through our online Odyssey Public Portal any public records that have been filed on this case.
Update: 5:24PM Next Court Date is February 22, 2022 at 2PM Courtroom 8C
21-SM-014538-A | The People of the State of California vs. Aldon Jacarus Ramon Smith
Wonderful photo by SMDJ of Aldon Smith, Definitely NOT a Booking Photo.
This is another exciting “Those Who Matter” case that the “Fixer” Joshua Bentley is quietly moving through the San Mateo County Court system.
You will recall Aldon Smith was arrested on December 6, 2021 by the California Highway Patrol at Farm Hill Blvd and 280 where he crashed into a Recology Truck injuring the driver. This is not the first time he has been arrested for DUI, It’s been reported he has been arrested 5 times for DUI.
Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos has never released his Booking Photo or produced a Press Release of the December 6, 2021 arrest. Why?
Attorney Joshua Bentley is doing an Excellent job in trying to keep those four prior DUI’s out of this case.
02/10/2022 Opposition to motion filed Comment PEOPLE’S OPPOSITION RESPONSE TO DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO STRIKE THE FOREIGN PRIORS ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT
02/14/2022 Preliminary Hearing Judicial Officer Karesh, Jonathan E.
Hearing Time 2:00 PM Comment 60 MIN
Remember The San Mateo County Superior Court is encouraging the Public to attend the Courtrooms in Person. That change went into effect November 22, 2021. I wouldn’t recommend that.
Update: 9:15AM 2/8/2022 Next Court date is February 14, 2022 at 2PM
21-SM-014538-A | The People of the State of California vs. Aldon Jacarus Ramon Smith
Wonderful photo by SMDJ of Aldon Smith, Definitely NOT a Booking Photo.
02/08/2022 Courtroom 8B 9:00 AM Preliminary Hearing Judicial Officer Jakubowski, Susan Hearing Time 9:00 AM Comment 2 Briefs filed
This case should be compared to other SMC DUI, Crash, Personal Injury, and BAC .288
The key word here is CONVICTED:
VEHICLE CODE – VEH
DIVISION 11.5. SENTENCING FOR DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE [23500 – 23675]
In addition to any other provision of this code, if a person is convicted of a violation of Section 23152 or23153, the court shall consider a concentration of alcohol in the person’s blood of 0.15 percent or more, by weight, or the refusal of the person to take a breath or urine test, as a special factor that may justify enhancing the penalties in sentencing, in determining whether to grant probation, and, if probation is granted, in determining additional or enhanced terms and conditions of probation.(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 177, Sec. 2. (AB 2717) Effective January 1, 2019.)
Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos
San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos did not release a Booking Photo or Press Release of his arrest. Those are the first two Red Flags of a Special Treatment case in SMC. His whereabouts for more than 5 hours has never been made public. That is the third Red Flag. The fourth Red Flag is Joshua Bentley is his defense attorney.
Wonderful photo by SMDJ of Aldon Smith, Definitely NOT a Booking Photo.
Most DUI cases are prosecuted as misdemeanors. But the offense may be charged as a felony if someone is injured or you have four (4) or more prior DUIs on your record.3 Some convictions carry jail time for California DUIs.
Why is his case being charged as a misdemeanor? 21-SM-014538-A | The People of the State of California vs. Aldon Jacarus Ramon Smith
Where was he for over 5 hours after the accident at 1:27 P.M. on December 6, 2021 before he got booked into SMC Jail?
What time was the BAC .288 recorded?
What time did he contact Defense Attorney Joshua Bentley?
Aldon Smith’s next court date is January 26, 2022 at 2 P.M.
Wonderful photo by SMDJ of Aldon Smith, Definitely NOT a Booking Photo.
Aldon Smith was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on December 6, 2021 on Farm Hill Blvd, Redwood City, San Mateo County, California. He crashed his vehicle into a Recology Truck injuring the driver.
Silicon Valley.com Reporter Michael Nowels reported his BAC was .288
What is Not known is what time did he finally take the test?
According to the Chart below Aldon Smith should lose his California Drivers License for 3 years and he should be in Jail for an additional 18 days. Hopefully the Silicon Valley .com News provider will follow up on this topic.
If you refuse to submit to a DUI breath test after being lawfully arrested for driving under the influence in California, you will face penalties for a chemical test refusal.
The major consequences of a chemical test refusal in California are: 1) increased penalties in addition to the standard California DUI penalties, and 2) a mandatory driver’s license suspension that will occur regardless of the outcome in your DUI case.
This is because of California’s “implied consent” law. Under this law, you have no right to refuse a DUI breath test once you are lawfully arrested for DUI.
Traditionally, California’s “implied consent law” applied to DUI blood tests as well as to breath tests. But the Supreme Court of the United States has suggested that defendants may not be penalized for refusing to take blood tests in cases where the police have not obtained a warrant.
The following chart clarifies the additional penalties that will accompany a DUI conviction if you refuse to take a DUI breath test.
Number of Prior DUIs in the Past 10 Years
Additional Jail Time for Refusing a Breath Test
License Suspension/Revocation for Chemical Test Refusal
0
48 extra hours in jail; six extra months of required DUI school
1-year license suspension
1
96 extra hours in jail
2-year license revocation
2
10 extra days in jail
3-year license revocation
3 or more
18 extra days in jail
3-year license revocation
Number of Prior DUIs in the Past 10 Years
Penalties for Refusing a Breath Test
0
48 extra hours in jail; six extra months of required DUI school; 1-year driver’s license suspension
1
96 extra hours in jail; 2-year driver’s license revocation
2
10 extra days in jail; 3-year driver’s license revocation
3 or more
18 extra days in jail; 3-year driver’s license revocation
Wonderful photo by SMDJ of Aldon Smith, Definitely NOT a Booking Photo.
Aldon Smith’s BAC was .288 according to SJMN reporter Michael Nowels. It should be noted we don’t know how many hours passed since he crashed and the test was finally taken.
The Hon. Judge Stephanie Garratt was supposed to hear the case that was on calendar for 9:00 AM
Defense Attorney Joshua Bentley was supposed to appear either in person or on ZOOM.
Defendant Aldon Smith was supposed to appear.
That’s all I can report at this moment, the Court Clerk has not entered the results into the Odyssey Portal Data Base yet. He or she was able to enter the results of other cases in that courtroom yesterday.
If the Public Access by Telephone had not been discontinued on November 22, 2021, I would have been able to report the results yesterday morning.
Update: 12:05 PM 1/05/2022
The DDA was Heather Marie Finlayson #289930, and Defense Attorney Joshua Bentley appeared in person on behalf of his client who appeared via Zoom.
The matter did not proceed to an evidentiary hearing.
Time was not waived, and the matter was continued until 1/26/22 at 2:00 P.M. because of an unavailable witness. The defendant remains on bail, and was ordered to return.
He was also ordered to wear a SCRAM alcohol monitoring device.
In 2018 Mr. Smith was wearing a SCRAM alcohol monitoring device when he was arrested for another DUI with a BAC of .40 FIVE times the legal limit.
Next Court date: Preliminary Hearing January 26, 2022 @ 2 P.M.
Josh Bentley, Aldon Smith, ReportersSheriff Carlos G. BolanosD.A. Stephen M. Wagstaffe
Aldon Smith needs HELP not Enablers.
TMZ Sports was first to report his December 6, 2021 arrest by the CHP in Redwood City,
“Details surrounding the arrest are unclear.” Welcome to San Mateo County, That is the first of many RED FLAGS.
Aldon Smith might have been kicked off of several NFL TEAMS but he is on the “Those Who Matter” TEAM, in SMC. That is the Last Thing he needs.
His Defense Attorney Joshua Bentley is most likely on his cell phone speed dial. Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos and District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe numbers are on Joshua Bentley’s speed dial.
TMZ reported “Details surrounding the arrest are unclear.” How is that possible in 2021. What could be unclear about an arrest that takes place around 2:30 PM and Booked in jail at 7:38 PM. Where was Aldon Smith for those 5 hours?
What date and time did San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos provide the 760,000 residents with a Press/News Release of Aldon Smith’s ARREST for DUI BAC .288 which is over 3 times the legal limit? Sheriff Bolanos Never did provide that information, WHY?
In 2018 Aldon Smith was arrested for DUI with a BAC of .40 which is 5 times the legal limit, and that happened with him wearing a SCRAM device.
Why did San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe file this FELONY criminal case as a Misdemeanor? 21-SM-014538-A The People of the State of California vs. Aldon Jacarus Ramon Smith
The “Those Who Matter” TEAM also includes Superior Court of California County of San Mateo Judges.
November 22, 2021 the Court Public Access Telephone Service has been discontinued. The SMC Judges Invite you to attend in PERSON. I recommend any member of the public who is considering going into the 400 County Center Building, in Redwood City, California, First Google the word PANDEMIC.
This case is being heard at 9:00 AM in Courtroom 8B by the Hon. Judge Stephanie Garratt.
Hon. Judge Stephanie Garratt is the Judge that on July 2, 2018 GRANTED the San Mateo County District Attorney Office MOTION to DISMISS the ENTIRE Zainali Jaffer criminal case AFTER it had already had a Preliminary Hearing and evidence and testimony was heard and ALL CHARGES were approved.
Don’t expect this Felony Criminal Case to go much different, than the Sheriff Sergeant Lou Aquino DUI case, the Zainali Jaffer Criminal Case, or the San Mateo County Sheriff Activities League (SAL) Embezzlement & Money Laundering Criminal Case with Barbara Bonilla being the only person charged when there were others.
UPDATED DECEMBER 30, 2021 COVID-Related Rescheduling of Hearings Temporary Courtroom Closure 1/3/2022 through 1/14/2022: Please click here for more information. CIVIL EX PARTES: Pursuant to Emergency Local Rule 3-101, effective January 1, 2022, all ex partes in civil law and motion matters are temporarily suspended until further order of the Court. Please click here for Civil Division information: http://www.sanmateocourt.org/court_divisions/civil/. CRIMINAL: All Preliminary Hearings currently scheduled between 1/3/2022 and 1/14/2022 will be heard at the Southern Courthouse at 400 County Center in Redwood City. If your Preliminary Hearing is scheduled for the Northern Courthouse in South San Francisco, you should appear on the same scheduled date and time at 400 County Center in Redwood City, not South San Francisco. Please click here for Criminal Division information: http://www.sanmateocourt.org/court_divisions/criminal/. SMALL CLAIMS: All small claims hearings currently scheduled at 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM between 1/3/2022 and 1/14/2022 will be rescheduled to a later date. A notice of new hearing dates will be mailed to impacted parties. Please click here for Small Claims Division information: http://www.sanmateocourt.org/court_divisions/small_claims/.TRAFFIC: All traffic arraignment and court trial hearings currently scheduled between 1/3/2022 and 1/14/2022 will be rescheduled to a later date. Customers will receive their new date in the mail, sent to the address on the citation. Please click here for Traffic Division information: http://www.sanmateocourt.org/court_divisions/traffic
UPDATED NOVEMBER 22, 2021 Public Access Policy Updated 11/22/21 – The listen-only public access lines are no longer in effect; proceedings are open to the public to attend in person.
San Mateo County Superior Court is committed to continuing public access to court proceedings during and after the pandemic emergency. Due to COVID-19 and public health concerns, the Court has shifted to convene some court proceedings remotely in order to eliminate the need for individuals to attend hearings in person. This is to reduce the number of visits by the public to the courthouses, thereby minimizing potential infection of the public and staff.
At this time, members of the public may attend a court proceeding in person. The Court is committed to maintaining a safe workplace for our staff and the public. Each courtroom can accommodate a different number of seats in the audience. You will need to check-in with the bailiff when you enter the courtroom. The bailiff will inform you as to whether or not there is an available seat, or if capacity has been reached. If capacity has been reached, you may remain outside the courtroom until someone leaves. Face coverings are required at all times inside the courthouse.
Zoom may not be used for public access without the approval of the judicial officer.
San Mateo County News 