Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
2h
HAPPENING NOW: Paul Flores and his father Ruben are scheduled to be arraigned in San Luis Obispo Co. District Court at 1:30 this afternoon. Watch the live stream here (and select District 1):
https://slo.courts.ca.gov/gi/live.htm
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
The arraignment hearing has just started.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Paul Flores, his father Ruben, and their attorneys are all appearing in court virtually via Zoom.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Paul Flores pleas not guilty to murder. Ruben Flores pleas not guilty to accessory after the fact.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Paul Flores' attorney, Robert Sanger, says he has been under "assault" by the media, specifically blogs and people on social media over the past 20+ years.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Sanger comments on the timing of Paul Flores' arrest: "I would say that it is somewhat unusual that there would be an arrest warrant, at the same time a request for search warrants, and not much new has appeared."
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Paul's attorney also questions what evidence prosecutors have that could prove murder: "This is a very high profile case in the sense that the victim of this case has been missing for a very long time... but that does not mean that there's a case against Mr. Flores."
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
"I would suggest that there's not a basis where the proof is strong to hold my client without bail." Sanger asks the court to set a reasonable bail. Currently, Paul Flores is being held on no bail.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Christopher Peuvrelle, representing the People in this case, says circumstances have changed now that a murder charge has been filed and there are concerns Paul could flee the area. He asks that Paul is still held on no bail.
Olivia DeGennaro @OliviaDeGennaro 1h
Peuvrelle also comments on new evidence that led investigators to charge Paul Flores with murder: "There's substantial new evidence from the early 2020 searches."
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
The judge rules Paul will remain in custody on no bail "There's no less restrictive means to protect public safety than to detain Mr. Flores before trail." He points out Flores has not remained crime-free since the disappearance of Kristin Smart.
Olivia DeGennaro @OliviaDeGennaro 1h
Moving on to Ruben Flores' bail now... Harold Mesick, Ruben's attorney, points out his client's involvement in the military and in the Arroyo Grande community.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Mesick: "He's 80 years old. He recently had triple bypass heart surgery." Ruben's attorney says he's on 17 different medications and calls him a "medical nightmare for the jail." He raises concerns that Ruben could die in jail before this case goes to trial.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
"The evidence itself is more than ambiguous." Ruben Flores' attorney asks that Mr. Flores be released, saying he needs constant medical attention. Mesick: "I don't believe holding Mr. Ruben Flores in custody, I don't believe there's any grounds for it your honor."
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Mesick says the maximum sentence Paul Flores could serve for accessory after the fact would be three years. The judge points out, if Ruben remained in custody, he could come close to serving his entire sentence before trial.
[URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']Olivia DeGennaro @OliviaDeGennaro 1h
The prosecution brings up concerns of Ruben Flores potentially tampering with further evidence if he is released. "I think that is a public safety risk."
Olivia DeGennaro
@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Judge: "We don't punish someone before he has been convicted. Here we have a man in his 80s with no criminal history..." "I do intend to release Ruben Flores on some amount of bail he can afford."
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
The judge says the court will likely request electronic monitoring to make sure Ruben Flores does not leave the county.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
The judge schedules another bail hearing for this Wednesday at 1:30 pm to revisit Ruben Flores' bail amount.
Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL]
1h
Attorneys are discussing a preliminary hearing date now. They are aiming for July 6 and they say that hearing alone could last about 12 days. They have concerns about how long it will take to go through discovery because there is so much material in this case.
