Current:Home > MarketsCalifornia dad who drove family off cliff will get mental health treatment instead of trial-LoTradeCoin
California dad who drove family off cliff will get mental health treatment instead of trial
View Date:2024-12-23 21:03:28
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) — A California radiologist accused of trying to kill his family by driving off a cliff along the Northern California coast will receive mental health treatment instead of standing trial, a judge ruled.
Prosecutors charged Dharmesh A. Patel, 43, with attempted murder after the Tesla he was driving plunged off a 250-foot (76 meters) cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway in San Mateo County, injuring his wife and two young children. All four survived the Jan. 2, 2023, crash in what one official called an “absolute miracle.”
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Wednesday he was disappointed with the judge’s decision.
“I am disappointed with the court’s decision, but Judge Jakubowski carefully weighed the evidence and the facts and went the other way,” he said.
Patel, who was on a family road trip from Pasadena to the Bay Area, will have to complete a two-year mental health outpatient treatment program at a Bay Area hospital for the charges to be dropped, Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski ruled last week, KRON-TV reported.
Patel’s defense attorney, Joshua Bentley, argued in May that the radiologist qualifies for mental health diversion under California law, the television station reported.
“It’s important to understand why we are here. Not everyone who commits a crime is a criminal. There is no question this is a very serious case. But the law encompasses this very situation,” Bentley told the judge.
Patel does not pose a danger to the community because he will be under an intensive psychiatric treatment program, as well as monitored with a GPS bracelet equipped with a siren, Bentley said.
Deputy District Attorney Dominique Davis argued that Patel should not qualify for a mental health diversion program because he poses “an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety,” KRON-TV reported.
Patel’s wife testified that she does not want her husband prosecuted. She said her children miss their father and they want him to return home, the television station reported.
Davis said the evidence showed that in the weeks leading up to the attempted triple murder, Patel experienced paranoia and delusions, which are symptoms of schizoaffective disorder.
The judge agreed with Patel’s defense and said in her ruling that Patel doesn’t have a history of violence and that his diagnosis of major depressive disorder played a significant role in his actions.
Patel, who has been in jail without bail since his arrest, will be held for several more weeks before being released to his parents’ home in Belmont, Calif. He will be monitored by GPS, will have to surrender his driver’s license and passport, and will need to check with the court weekly, the judge ruled.
veryGood! (44)
Related
- Dick Van Dyke says he 'fortunately' won't be around for Trump's second presidency
- March Madness bracket picks for Thursday's first round of the men's NCAA Tournament
- These Zodiac Signs Will Feel the First Lunar Eclipse of 2024 the Most
- Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter fired by Dodgers after allegations of illegal gambling, theft
- Guns smuggled from the US are blamed for a surge in killings on more Caribbean islands
- Kyle Richards Weighs in on Family Drama Between Mauricio Umansky and Paris Hilton
- Chipotle’s board has approved a 50-for-1 stock split. Here’s what that means
- Georgia lawmakers approve income tax cuts for people and businesses
- Mississippi rising, Georgia falling in college football NCAA Re-Rank 1-134 after Week 11
- Next Mega Millions drawing features jackpot of nearly $1 billion: Here's what to know
Ranking
- Mother of Man Found Dead in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness Gym Details His Final Moments
- Metropolitan Opera presents semi-staged `Turandot’ after stage malfunction
- Federal officials want to know how airlines handle — and share — passengers’ personal information
- Governor’s plan to boost mass transit aid passes Pennsylvania House, but faces long odds in Senate
- Sister Wives’ Kody Brown Explains His Stance on His Daughter Gwendlyn Brown’s Sexuality
- Washington state man accused of eagle killing spree to sell feathers and body parts on black market
- Their WWII mission was secret for decades. Now the Ghost Army will get the Congressional Gold Medal
- The Daily Money: Follow today's Fed decision live
Recommendation
-
Judge recuses himself in Arizona fake elector case after urging response to attacks on Kamala Harris
-
New York lawmakers expand fracking ban to include liquid carbon dioxide
-
Vessel off Florida Keys identified as British warship that sank in the 18th century
-
Most popular dog breed rankings are released. Many fans are not happy.
-
Cruise ship rescues 4 from disabled catamaran hundreds of miles off Bermuda, officials say
-
Atlanta man gets life in death of longtime friend over $35; victim's wife speaks out
-
Lawmakers seek bipartisan breakthrough for legislation to provide federal protections for IVF
-
Megan Fox's Call Her Daddy Bombshells: Brian Austin Green, Machine Gun Kelly & More