GUILTY CA - Justice Rees, 2 wks, Woodland, 24 Feb 2015

[CarolinaMoon]

So, she was going to plead to a much lesser charge and the DA upped the ante. I do hope that, during the continuing investigation LE found more evidence to support the murder charge. I'm on pins and needles anticipating what the outcome of today's hearing will be.

 

[SwampMama]

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news...n-court-likley-to-face-murder-charge/31776346

"It is still unclear exactly why the district attorney filed the new charges (the upgrade to murder), but it may be related to a search that was conducted at the house Green lived at with her boyfriend, Frank Rees, and his parents in Woodland.

One day before the district attorney's office filed its request for a charge change, court documents show Green's lawyer asked for a "change of plea" hearing"

Interesting that Samantha Green's lawyer asked for this "change of plea" hearing. Is it possible that a plea deal has been reached and she will plead guilty in order to recieve some kind of special considerations (such as serving a long term rehab treatment program before a jail term or to reduce her sentence). I do think treatment should be mandatory and if she can cooperate and be remorseful, tell the full story of what happened and be willing to participate in treatment that this would be a better outcome than fighting the charges and continuing to plead "not guilty" and denying the wrong doing.

 

[MsMarple]

Judge okays the murder charge.

BREAKING: Judge allows DA to up charges from manslaughter to murder. @News10_CA

https://twitter.com/News10_CAHayley/status/576411973002264576

 

[MsMarple]

Samantha Green now has NO bail because of her new charge. They are retaining her plea of not guilty. @News10_CA

https://twitter.com/News10_CAHayley/status/576412634796269568

 

[time]

It does seem a little odd to me that the prosecutor can up her charges but not give any evidence of why?

 

[time]

Uhm, did anyone look at the FB post of FR from about an hour ago? He's not going to court and working on himself instead, being supportive from a "safe distance". Hmm

 

[MsMarple]

Uhm, did anyone look at the FB post of FR from about an hour ago? He's not going to court and working on himself instead, being supportive from a "safe distance". Hmm

Ugh. Arrested for meth and his friends are supporting him? Seems that FR and his buddies have quickly forgotten baby Justice. Oh well, time to move on. Where was Frank's concern about keeping his kids out of "harm's way" when he was getting high?

I wonder how long the gag order is going to be in place. SG's attorney complained that the upped charge was "vindictive prosecution" while the DA claims evidence developed to support the change.

 

[MsMarple]

Olson went on to say that the DA has still not explained what new evidence has been found.

However, the DA disputed that, adding he is not required to reveal any evidence until the preliminary hearing. He said even he has not received all the evidence, which is still being written up by investigators, who are working around-the-clock.

The judge said the motion to amend was filed very early on in the process, and there was no reason to believe there was a vindictive prosecution.

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news...n-court-likley-to-face-murder-charge/31776346

 

[time]

Ugh. Arrested for meth and his friends are supporting him? Seems that FR and his buddies have quickly forgotten baby Justice. Oh well, time to move on. Where was Frank's concern about keeping his kids out of "harm's way" when he was getting high?

I wonder how long the gag order is going to be in place. SG's attorney complained that the upped charge was "vindictive prosecution" while the DA claims evidence developed to support the change.

Yeah, ugh, I don't get it.

Per the gag order, hard to tell, it could be in place until the prelim? I really don't like gag orders or the fact that they can hold someone for murder but seemingly not even tell their defense attorney what the evidence is. Not standing up for her, I just mean in general... too much power and lack of transparency for me.

On another note, I wonder if the murder charge might put pressure on SG to be more forthcoming with information? My first thought was that FR was afraid to go to court this morning! He still has other charges for court in Lake County, right?

 

[roesmom]

Even if you don't have a Twitter account, you can search Twitter for SG and FR to get the latest local news articles and photos.

https://twitter.com/search-home

 

[MsMarple]

Yeah, ugh, I don't get it.

Per the gag order, hard to tell, it could be in place until the prelim? I really don't like gag orders or the fact that they can hold someone for murder but seemingly not even tell their defense attorney what the evidence is. Not standing up for her, I just mean in general... too much power and lack of transparency for me.

On another note, I wonder if the murder charge might put pressure on SG to be more forthcoming with information? My first thought was that FR was afraid to go to court this morning! He still has other charges for court in Lake County, right?

I agree about the gag order. Once the DA has the probable cause statement the news stations will be all over it so I expect a flood of info to be released soon. No word yet on the date of the next hearing.

I can't imagine the DA upping the charge without new evidence so while it may put pressure on SG there's got to be a good reason for it. And yeah, AFAIK Frank's still facing the Lake county charge. A news station (can't remember which) noted that though he's not been charged in Justice's murder he hasn't been officially cleared yet by LE either. He's got to be very afraid right now. I wonder how long it will be until he needs to score some meth...

 

[SophieRose]

Also read comments below.
http://www.davisvanguard.org/2015/0...er-with-murder/comment-page-1/#comment-270800

The public defender’s office countered that the timing of the amended complaint seemed suspicious and raises the prospect of vindictive prosecution.

David Muller argued that the change in the charge has not been explained by new evidence and Tracie Olson added that they were requesting a full evidentiary hearing.

Mr. Gorman however countered that something had been in the works and while he agree that the timing could lead to the belief it was changed in response to the change in plea, he asserted that this was not the case.

snip

Ms. Green under the previous charges had faced a maximum of six years in prison, and more likely four years. Now she faces a potential life sentence.

 

[SophieRose]

I'm surprised by this.

http://www.davisvanguard.org/2015/03/county-withholds-information-on-death-of-justice-rees/

State law also does not require health care providers to contact CWS if a child is born testing positive for an illegal controlled substance.

 

[SwampMama]

http://www.davisvanguard.org/2015/0...objection-to-das-charging-mother-with-murder/

Ms. Green, under the previous charges, had faced a maximum of six years in prison, and more likely four years. Now she faces a potential life sentence.

 

[gregjrichards]

"The California mother who was charged with manslaughter last week in the death of her newborn son on Friday had the charge formally upgraded to murder.

Samantha Green, 23, pleaded not guilty to the new count after Judge David Rosenberg rejected the defense's claim that the woman was the target of ‘vindictive prosecution.’

Prosecutors appealed to the judge to change Green's charge from manslaughter to murder after claiming to have uncovered new evidence in the death of her 20-day-old son, Justice Rees, over the past week.

In response, Green's public defender, Tracie Olson, demanded to be presented with the new information and accused the opposing side of moving the goalpost after her client had agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, reported Sacramento Bee.
Dressed in a striped green-and-white jumpsuit, Green appeared dejected and wept in court.
Supervising Deputy District Attorney Rob Gorman declined to go into detail about the new evidence but defended the timing of the request to amend the complaint against Green."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ims-vindictive-prosecution.html#ixzz3UKXFTwgy

 

[SophieRose]

Green’s defense lawyers demand evidence for murder charge

http://www.davisenterprise.com/loca...se-lawyers-demand-evidence-for-murder-charge/

Last week, the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office filed a two-page discovery request seeking all reports, emails and verbal communications regarding Samantha Lee Green that were exchanged between the DA’s office and law enforcement agencies from March 4, when she was arraigned on lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, to March 10, when prosecutors sought to replace the manslaughter count with murder.

snip

According to a copy of the plea form that Green signed on March 9, she faced at most a 13-year prison sentence, followed by four years of post-release supervision. A murder conviction carries a potential life term.

 

[Deleted member 50844]

Any updates?

 

[tlcya]

wondering if SG's tox results came back and that had something to do with the upped charges.

 

[SophieRose]

Tests for drugs and other medications are still being processed.

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/20150330/discovery-an-issue-in-baby-justice-case

Green grew emotional as family members began to fill the courtroom Monday morning, gazing at her in the jury box during the brief prehearing conference.

“I am still unclear as to whether I have all the discovery in this case,” Olson told Rosenberg, noting she plans to file a “motion to compel” prosecutors to release evidence to her if she does not get it soon.

Deputy District Attorney Ryan Couzens, who is partnering with Gorman on the case, said he would “be happy to talk about discovery” outside of the courtroom “if she wishes.”

 

[SwampMama]

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/genera...es-released-for-baby-justice-in-woodland-park

"The Woodland sky was filled with color Saturday after community members released several seed-filled balloons in memory of an infant who was found dead outside Knights Landing in February"

"Justice had his funeral, however, and Rees grew emotional on Saturday when he described that day. “It has been rough, almost unreal,” he said. “I remember holding him in my arms at the funeral home, dressing him in the outfit he wore when we brought him home from the hospital.”

Glad to see the baby has finally been laid to rest. No comment on FR aka the babydaddy.