LAKEPORT—A Lakeport man who was arrested in January for a hit-and-run accident recently appeared at the Lake County Superior Court for a master calendar call hearing.
Al Scott James, the defendant, was not in custody and present for the hearing.
The Court had assigned this case to be heard by Judge Harry, but Deputy District Attorney James Gandy challenged the assignment of Judge Harry per CCP 170.6. The challenge was honored.
The Code of Civil Procedure 170.6 CCP is the California law that says a judge can be disqualified from presiding over a criminal trial or civil lawsuit if the judge seems to be prejudiced against one of the parties or attorneys.
This case will now be heard by Judge Markham and the Court confirmed this case for jury trial on July 26, 2023.
The defendant is ordered to be present.
In May the defendant entered a not guilty plea to all counts of the information; denying the special allegations.
During the preliminary hearing earlier this year it was ordered that the defendant be held to answer to the charges.
In March the Court, pursuant to the request of the defendant, ordered this matter be continued.
The defendant’s arraignment hearing was held in March.
James, 63, has been charged with a hit-and-run – resulting in injury.
The charges stem from an incident in January when, according to the California Highway Patrol, a collision occurred at North Main Street in Lakeport, striking a female pedestrian in the lanes.
Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to the scene of the accident, which involved a vehicle and a pedestrian.
Upon arrival of the officers, the driver of the vehicle had left the scene.
The female pedestrian was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital as she remained conscious and alert. She was later transported by air ambulance to a hospital out of Lake County.
According to police, they later arrested Al James and he was charged with felony hit-and-run. He was booked into the Lake County Jail with bail set at $10,000.
The defendant has since bailed out and is no longer in custody.
