LA’s DA Nathan Hochman takes on soft-on-crime judge accused of slashing charges for puppy abusers and vandals

Source: New York Post

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has escalated an extraordinary legal battle with a Superior Court judge his office has accused of repeatedly undermining prosecutors by slashing charges and handing down lighter sentences. Hochman’s office has filed motions seeking to disqualify Judge Yvette Verastegui, who serves in the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles, from hearing certain criminal matters. The challenge stems from a series of cases in which prosecutors allege Verastegui reduced charges or imposed sentences far below those sought by the District Attorney’s Office despite prosecutors arguing the facts did not justify the reductions.