On February 19, 2003, 18-year-old Jared Levy Ross became involved in an incident in Los Angeles County that triggered a criminal prosecution. Los Angeles Superior Court records in Case No. SA047982 show that authorities filed a complaint on March 5, 2003, charging him with a felony count of evading a peace officer while operating a motor vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property (California Vehicle Code section 2800.2(a)) and a misdemeanor assault count (Penal Code section 240).

Bail was posted at $35,000 on March 12, 2003, with Michael Ross acting as surety under register number LAX469290021. The case advanced through arraignment, where Ross pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing on July 25, 2003. At that hearing the assault count was dismissed by the People pursuant to Penal Code section 859B on statutory time grounds. Ross was held to answer on the felony evading count. An information was filed on August 8, 2003, and Ross again pleaded not guilty.

The matter reached a resolution on December 15, 2003, in West District Department LXD before Hon. Keith L. Schwartz. The minute order states the following:

“INFORMATION FILED ON 08/08/03. COUNT 02: 415 PC INF ON 12/15/03 … CASE CALLED FOR BENCH WARRANT HOLD … COUNT 01: DISPOSITION: DISMISSAL IN FURTH OF JUSTICE PER 1385 PC DEFENSE MOTION VACATING JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION AS TO

COUNT ONE IS GRANTED.” (Later proceedings clarified the sequence.)

On that date the felony evading charge was reduced to a misdemeanor by interlineation under Penal Code section 17(b)(4) on the People’s motion. A disturbing the peace infraction under Penal Code section 415 was added by interlineation. Ross entered nolo contendere pleas to both counts and was convicted on both.

Sentencing occurred the same day. Imposition of sentence was suspended and Ross was placed on summary probation for two years. The minute order details key conditions:

“AS TO COUNT (01): … THE COURT ADMONISHES THE DEFENDANT … COURT READ

AND CONSIDERED THE PROBATION REPORT….. Continue in psychological counseling

currently in place and take medications as directed by medical doctor. The court read and considered both a probation report and a psychological report at sentencing.”

Additional conditions required 50 hours of community service (proof due by April 15, 2004), payment of a $100 restitution fine, surrender of his driver’s license to the clerk, no driving unless lawfully licensed and insured, no alcohol, no narcotics or dangerous drugs, no dangerous or deadly weapons, obedience to all laws, and use of his true name with government and police officials. A right thumb print was taken pursuant to Penal Code section 992.

Throughout 2004 the court held multiple progress report hearings that specifically monitored compliance with the psychological program. On April 15, 2004, defense counsel filed proof of psychological program participation and paid the restitution. On August 16, 2004, proof was filed that Ross was participating in psychological sessions. The case was continued on December 9, 2004, to December 9, 2005, for a “psychological update.”

On December 9, 2005, before Hon. Katherine Mader, the court granted a defense motion by attorney James Blanco and vacated the judgment on the evading count under Penal Code section 1385, dismissing it in the furtherance of justice. Ross was deemed never to have been convicted of that offense. An arrest disposition report was transmitted to the California Department of Justice on October 8, 2008. Nearly seventeen years later, on September 2, 2022, before Hon. Liliana Gonzalez, the court granted a motion under Penal Code section 1203.4. The plea, verdict, or finding of guilt was set aside and vacated, a not guilty plea entered, and the information dismissed. Attorney Kevin Gres represented Ross on that motion.

The Los Angeles Superior Court Archives and Records Center produced 34 pages of these minute orders on June 26, 2026, in response to a public records request. The response letter noted that the full case file is not stored at the Archives and directed further inquiries to the originating Santa Monica Courthouse at 1725 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401. That full file would contain the original complaint, information, preliminary hearing transcript, plea and sentencing transcript, the psychological report, the probation report, and the dismissal motions.

The Central Role of Psychological Evaluation

The repeated emphasis on psychological care stands out in the record. A psychological report was prepared and reviewed by the court before sentencing in December 2003. The probation