Jackson’s probation violation sentencing postponed
BRAWLEY – A sentencing hearing was recently postponed for El Centro Councilman Jason Jackson, who on Feb. 27 was found guilty of violating his probation by a county Superior Court judge.
The May 22 sentencing hearing’s continuance was granted by Judge Christopher Plourd, due to the hospitalization of Jackson’s attorney, Robert Espinosa, who passed away May 26.
Plourd initially moved to revoke Jackson’s probation on Nov. 26, for his reported failure to follow all laws while on probation for a misdemeanor animal cruelty conviction dating to August 2017.
Following a Feb. 11 evidentiary hearing, Plourd had determined that Jackson had violated the terms of his probation by receiving two separate traffic citations for speeding in 2019, which amounted to crimes.
During his Feb. 27 ruling, Plourd had also indicated that Jackson had violated his probation by submitting under penalty of perjury a declaration to the court that contained falsified information.
The false information submitted to the court on Jackson’s behalf and with his consent was a motion arguing for the early termination of this three- year probation and the stay of a 10- day jail sentence.
The motion, which was ultimately denied by Plourd, stated that Jackson had complied with all the terms of his probation, despite his having been convicted of two traffic infractions.
The motion’s omission of the traffic infractions, in Plourd’s estimation, amounted to perjury.
Parties are scheduled to appear before the court on June 26 for potential sentencing. Jackson could face additional jail time in connection to the probation violation, Espinosa had previously stated.
Plourd previously remanded Jackson into custody in November to serve 10 days in jail as part of his sentence for misdemeanor animal cruelty.
The charge, filed in June 2016 initially as a felony and reduced to a misdemeanor as a result of Jackson eventually agreeing to plead guilty, stemmed from his failing to properly care for his pet horse, Raider.
A county Probation Department report recently filed with the court recommended that Jackson’s probation be revoked and reinstated, and that he not be ordered to serve any additional jail time.
The report cited Jackson’s compliance with the terms of his probation, and stated that Jackson has since come to understand a traffic infraction can be interpreted as a crime and potential probation violation.
While on probation, Jackson was reporting to his probation officer on a monthly basis either in person or via telephone, and compliance checks conducted at his residence failed to turn up any type of contraband, the report stated.
The probation officer compiling the report also acknowledged that it’s difficult to determine an individual’s ability to interpret laws or recognize the elements of a crime.
The Probation Department recommended that Jackson perform an additional 10 hours of community service with a local non- profit and given credit for having already served 12 days in jail, consisting of six days actual and six days good conduct.
Jackson’s probation was scheduled to terminate Aug. 17, the probation report stated.