Opinion ID: 2615108
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: may the district attorney downgrade a crime to a violation?

Text: We have not found nor been cited to any authority which allows a district attorney to reduce the effect of a municipal ordinance, which by its elements and penalty is a crime, to a violation or infraction thereby reducing the City's burden of proof and also cutting off the defendant's right to a jury trial. This is not the same situation as when a district attorney exercises his discretion to prosecute on a lesser crime or a lesser violation [11] because of concerns with witnesses or the non-availability of evidence to prove each and every element of the more serious crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In the instant case the district attorney's action does not plead a lesser included offense or other offense but stipulates to an offense not enacted by the City. The district attorney possesses no authority to unilaterally reduce the possible penalty for a crime enacted by the City Council in order to create a different offense. Reversed and remanded for trial.