Another example of the insanity of governing in California - Just three days after being granted immunity from prosecution under California’s mental health diversion laws, a Napa man allegedly committed a brutal murder, prompting serious concerns about a system intended to protect public safety. On Tuesday, Napa County prosecutors filed murder charges against Ramiro Ochoa Mendoza, 36, for the killing of Noel Batres, 47, whose body was found under a bridge on July 3. Mendoza, who had a history of criminal offenses and poor compliance on probation, was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial earlier this year on misdemeanor charges including violating a restraining order and resisting arrest. -"Mendoza promptly failed to appear in court for his mental health diversion review and was found to be out of compliance with the diversion program," the Napa County District Attorney's Office said. Even with repeated violations and non-compliance, the court was legally required to dismiss charges due to Mendoza’s mental health status and the misdemeanor-only nature of his offenses. -- "Because the law prohibits prosecution from continuing in cases where a defendant is deemed incompetent on only misdemeanor charges, the court had no choice but to dismiss both remaining cases and did so on July 8, 2025," the DA's office said. The dismissal followed recent legislative reforms, specifically Senate Bill 317, that bar courts from restoring competency in misdemeanor-only cases, even if the defendant shows signs of escalating behavior. -- https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-allegedly-commits-brutal-murder-just-days-after-being-freed-californias-mental-health-laws
