Source: Davis Vanguard

During a July 6, 2026 hearing in Department 12 of San Francisco Superior Court, Judge Gloria Rhynes doubled the accused’s previously set bail after Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Gold-Matejka argued that releasing the accused again would pose a public-safety risk; by the end of the hearing the accused accepted a plea deal offered by the prosecution. The accused had been arrested July 1, 2026 on a Health and Safety Code violation and, according to the judge, faced eight additional open cases described as including “thefts and some more violent misdemeanors.” Originally held on $500 for the felony count and $100 for each misdemeanor, the accused had been released June 26, 2026 on his own recognizance with electronic monitoring after his mother posted bail; the prosecutor said the accused failed to report to Assertive Case Management on June 29 and that audible pings from the ankle monitor were sent June 30 to remind him to report.

Conflict counsel Gregory Humphreville, specially appearing for Asha Vora, told the court the accused had not been given a charging cord for the ankle monitor and that the device “might have run out of battery” before pings were received, and asked for another chance via electronic monitoring. DDA Gold-Matejka urged custody for “public safety,” even requesting detention without setting bail while acknowledging such a request might not comply with Kowalczyk; Judge Rhynes said a higher bail might be warranted and set new bail at $1,000 for the felony and $200 for each misdemeanor. After a break, the accused informed the court through counsel that he would accept the plea agreement; under its terms he would pay victim restitution, comply with any stay-away order and accept a Harvey waiver. The matter is scheduled back in Department 12 on Aug. 5, 2026 for dismissal of the case under the plea agreement and for Judge Rhynes to sentence the accused.