After 4 days, the preliminary hearing for convicted felon Javier Ruiz-Keyes finally concluded.
Right as Judge Kelly Neel started to issue her ruling and started with Count 8, I knew there was an issue.
The court clerk also noticed that and brought it to Judge Kelly Neel's attention. There was an amended complaint with 8 counts.
That was not in the system yesterday and so the post yesterday has the 3 counts from the original complaint in the system. I have added the amended charges and 8/25 minutes to yesterday's post as well as today's post which were available after this post was published.
Keyes was held to answer on 3 of the 8 counts. Judge Neel found testimony and evidence for Count 2 Pimping, Count 3 Pandering and Count 5 Pimping. Judge Neel found that the evidence and testimony presented did not support Count 1 Human trafficking or Count 4 Human trafficking, Count 6 Pandering, Count 7 Pimping and Count 8 Pandering.
Judge Neel denied defense request to change or lower bail in the pimping case. Keyes remains on a no bail status for that case. Public Defender Luke Brownfield intends to file a bail motion but expects it to be denied since Judge Neel set the original bail and she presided over the preliminary hearing.
Judge Neel said there was a pimp and prostitute relationship but she did not see violence, threat or coercion for certain counts. Of the three Jane Does, Judge Neel found Jane Doe 3 most credible.
The May 2022 HCDTF case trailing this pimping case is scheduled for pre-trial on August 30. Bail in that case is $175,000. Arraignment on the pimping case is scheduled for September 12.
Judge Neel did not grant the People's request to strike the names of the alleged victims from the record which is why they are in minutes and referred by last name in Judge Neel's remarks.
In addition to the evidence and testimony, Judge Neel reviewed jury instructions before issuing her ruling.
Count 8: No holding order. Judge Neel said there was not sufficient evidence of pandering. There was evidence Keyes posted an ad. "There was no evidence she accepted work based on ad." The text messages presented by the People showed evidencd of drug sales between Keyes and Crenshaw.
Count 7: No holding order.
Count 6: "Kind of a close call. Court does not have evidence that he convinced her to do this; he did derive profit from what they agreed to."
Count 5: Held to answer.
Count 4: Judge Neel referred to text messages and exhibits presented by the People. Judge Neel said there was no coercion. "There was no threat or fraud other than evidence of a pimp and prostitute relationship. She left her child with defendant while out prostituting."
Deputy DA Schaffer interrupted saying,"The fact that she is a prostitute is not of concern."
Judge Neel responded, "I agree."
Judge Neel continued and said, "this was not a close call. "No holding order.
Count 3: Regarding Jackson, Judge Neel said, "This person was clearly a victim." Held to answer.
Count 2: Judge Neel said Keyes derived gain. Held to answer.
Count 1: "This one I struggle with; it is a much closer call. What the Court does not have is ongoing deprivation of liberty. There was one incident he had a gun but in her testimony she said she always felt safe he had a gun. I have to look at totality. She doesn't appear to be controlled by him. There is not chronic deprivation.
Judge Neel added, "I get why people charged the way they did. The Court has to base decision on evidence."
Amended charges:
Amended complaint:
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