A man facing five felony charges and a pending deportation order was released without bail this week by an Alameda County judge, despite vocal objections from the District Attorney’s office.
Guillermo Medina Reyes, 31, was released on his own recognizance (OR) on Wednesday by Judge Brian Caruth.
The judge ordered Medina Reyes to return to court next week to formally enter a plea on the charges.
The hearing was not listed on Alameda County’s public court calendar, which is published twice daily, and its timing and other procedural details remain unclear.
Court documents indicate that an oral motion for OR release was made by the public defender’s office and was approved by Judge Caruth.
The judge also stated that Medina Reyes should be assessed by a mental health provider for potential residential treatment.
In the meantime, he is to participate in outpatient mental health care.
Medina Reyes has been at the center of a high-profile case involving multiple felony charges.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged him with five felonies stemming from an alleged crime spree that occurred in Berkeley on Sunday.
The charges, per law enforcement reports, include: attempted carjacking of a vehicle with a 3-year-old child inside; attempted theft of a big rig truck; grand theft of a cellphone; attempted carjacking of a woman in her 60s at a gas station; and attempted theft of a Toyota Prius.
Authorities noted that even in Alameda County, known for more lenient bail practices, it is rare for a defendant facing such serious charges to be released without posting any bail.
The alleged offenses all occurred on the same day and involved a series of attempted thefts and confrontations with victims across multiple locations.
Police sources indicated that the incidents created concern for public safety, particularly due to the presence of a young child during one of the attempted carjackings.
The Berkeley Scanner, a local news outlet, highlighted that the decision to release Medina Reyes is further complicated by his immigration status.
He is currently under investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has ordered him to wear a GPS monitor while his case is under review.
Medina Reyes, who resides in San Jose, is not a U.S. citizen.
His supporters state that he has lived in the United States since he was six years old.
Public records confirm that he has been engaged in a legal battle with ICE over potential deportation for at least the past month.
This is not Medina Reyes’ first encounter with the criminal justice system. Court records show that he was convicted of attempted murder at the age of 16 and served over a decade in prison.
In May of this year, Medina Reyes was arrested by Morgan Hill police on suspicion of robbery and vandalism.
Those incidents led to felony vandalism charges filed in Santa Clara County on July 15. He is scheduled to appear in court for that case in September.
The timing of Medina Reyes’ release has drawn increased attention as California continues to face scrutiny over its handling of crime and public safety, especially regarding repeat offenders and individuals involved in both criminal and immigration proceedings.
Judge Caruth, who was appointed to the bench by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024, previously worked as a public defender. He graduated from Stanford Law School in 1994.
The post Illegal Alien Accused of Heinous Crime Spree Released on ‘His Own Recognizance’ by Newsom-Appointed Judge appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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