State Attorney Pays Fine After SLO Courtroom Arrest

UPDATE:

A state attorney arrested after an altercation in court last year has pleaded no contest and paid a $1,000 fine.

Jennie Mariah Kelly represented the State Attorney General’s office during a civil trial in San Luis Obispo. While the judge and jury were out of the courtroom, she became involved in an altercation with a court bailiff.

According to a report from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department, Kelly and other attorneys were in what is called “prep mode” when the incident occurred.

After the arrest, Kelly’s attorney said the state lawyer had done nothing wrong. The case was resolved with the no contest plea and payment of the fine.

Video of the incident was obtained by the San Luis Obispo Tribune and can be seen here.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Representatives for State Attorney Jennie Kelly who was arrested nearly one month ago for resisting an officer, said she was doing nothing wrong.

“She was forced to the ground, she had her head pressed up a metal rail,” said Criminal Defense Attorney, Kara Stein-Conaway. “Jennie Kelly is a supervising deputy, she’s a veteran, a mother, and a wife.”

The arrest happened during a break in the trail. The judge and jury were on recess while both attorney’s were in what they call “prep-mode.”

According to Sheriff’s reports, Kelly did not listen to the baliff, did not lower her voice and did not leave the courtroom when asked.

The report adds that the baliff tried to escort Kelly out of the courtroom but she didn’t listen.

KCOY 12 reached out to opposing counsel who was also in the newsroom but did not hear back at the time of this report.

The California Bar Association also confirmed that Kelley had no prior record of discipline.

Kelly was representing the State of California in an ongoing civil trial that was in its seventh day of jury trial when the arrest happened.