California Criminal Case Reveals Early Chapter

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 terms expressly required continuation of counseling already in place plus medication compliance as directed by a medical doctor. The court scheduled specific hearings to verify progress on the psychological program. This level of judicial oversight and condition-setting is not standard for routine misdemeanor traffic matters. It indicates the court determined that mental health considerations were material to Ross's culpability, risk to public safety, and amenability to probation. 

A Pattern Spanning More Than Twenty Years