LAKE COUNTY — Charles Thomas Jones was returned to prison after a Lake County Court denied a second attempt to suppress evidence, according to a press release from the Lake County District Attorney”s office.
Jones was originally sentenced on Nov. 16, 2007 to 10 years in prison for a felony violation of health and safety code section 11379, transportation of methamphetamine, and health and safety code section 11377, possession of methamphetamine, on a separate date.
Jones also had a prior strike conviction as well as a prior prison term that resulted in a total prison term of 10 years.
The First Appellate District Court remanded the case back to Lake County courts for a new motion to suppress evidence hearing.
The hearing was held before the Honorable Andrew S. Blum on April 27 and May 3.
During the hearing Sonoma County Deputy Greg Piccinini, previously with the Clearlake Police Department, testified that on Feb. 26, 2006 he saw Jones fail to make a complete stop at a stop sign. As a result, he initiated a traffic stop that eventually led to the recovery of 40 grams of methamphetamine concealed on Jones” person.
In making his ruling Blum indicated that he found Piccinini”s testimony as to what he saw credible.
Blum was not persuaded by Jones” testimony, nor that of the witnesses produced by Jones.
Jones was represented by J. David Markham who took over the case after the death of Jones” previous attorney Stephen Tulanian. The people were represented by Deputy District Attorney Susan Krones.
