Quick Take
A judge dismissed nine misdemeanor charges against Santa Cruz entrepreneur Clarice Owens, who has been released on bail after three months in jail and will face a reduced set of charges at a rescheduled jury trial in May.
A judge has dismissed nine misdemeanors against Santa Cruz entrepreneur Clarice Owens. The co-founder of the company behind the Pescavore line of tuna jerky is out of custody on bail after three months in jail, awaiting her jury trial later this spring.
Last week, Owens’ public defender, Kristyn Skelly, made a motion to dismiss the charges, including the two felony charges, against her client. At the time, Owens was facing a total of 35 charges, including two felonies for stalking and more than 30 misdemeanors for violating four restraining orders granted to neighbors, former investors in her company and industry colleagues, who say that Owens harassed and threatened them online for months or, in some cases, years.
After reviewing Skelly’s arguments and the opposition by Peter Esho, the assistant district attorney in charge of the case, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Nancy de la Peña dismissed nine charges, none of which were the felonies, saying on Monday afternoon that she “couldn’t find sufficient evidence” to include those counts.
Owens was released from custody on March 18 after being held without bail since Dec. 19. On March 16, a judge set bail at $100,000 for the most significant charge, and $25,000 for two other charges against her. She was prohibited from returning to her home in a Santa Cruz Westside neighborhood and was placed in an alternative location.
The jury trial, originally slated to begin April 6, was rescheduled to May 26.
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