Councilman avoids jail pending appeal
El Centro City Councilman Jason Jackson will avoid a court-ordered, 10day jail sentence pending the appeal of his Aug. 17 sentence in connection to a misdemeanor animal cruelty conviction.
County Superior Court Judge Christopher J. Plourd ruled during a hearing Thursday that Jackson had the right to have the misdemeanor 10-day jail sentence stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. Plourd also ruled that the remainder of Jackson’s probation terms will
remain in effect pending the appeal, including the prohibition against owning pets of any kind for five years, the county District Attorney’s Office reported.
On Aug. 31, Jackson’s defense attorney, Thomas Storey, had motioned to have the entirety of Jackson’s probation terms stayed pending an appeal of the sentence.
During that hearing, Plourd ruled that the 10day jail sentence and the probation term prohibiting pets would be stayed pending the outcome of Thursday’s hearing.
Jackson’s original sentence included a 10-day jail sentence, three years formal probation, being barred from owning any pets for five years, a $1,000 fine, being subject to unwarranted search and seizure upon request by law enforcement officials during the duration of his probation, undergoing counseling and being barred from leaving the state without the permission of a probation officer.
Jackson had pleaded guilty to a felony animal cruelty charge on July 13, after having received assurances from the court that the conviction would be reduced to a misdemeanor. He also attempted to withdraw his guilty plea on Aug. 17 after county Judge William D. Lehman had imposed the 10-day jail sentence.
Counsel is scheduled to return Dec. 5 to the courthouse in El Centro for a review of the appeal process, the DA’s Office stated.
Jackson’s new attorney filed a notice of appeal Aug. 29, with the state 4th District Court of Appeal Division 1.