Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Kings County Can Prosecute Woman in Fetus Death Case Over Becerra Objection
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
December 24, 2020

Share

The state Supreme Court has ruled that Kings County can continue its case against a woman accused of killing her unborn baby because of drug use.

Kings County District Attorney Keith Fagundes’ office charged Chelsea Becker, of Hanford, with murder after a stillbirth in 2019. Becker appealed the charges, and had support from California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

Becerra, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary, said a 1970 law to include the death of a fetus should not be interpreted to include a death due to drug use.

“(The law) did not intend to sweep in a woman’s own actions that might result in a miscarriage or stillbirth. This reading follows from the language of section 187. The statute expressly excludes abortion and any act that ‘was solicited, aided, abetted, or consented to by the mother of the fetus,” Becerra wrote in a letter to the state Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Denies Hearing Case

The state high court declined to hear the case, Becker v. S.C. (People), in a decision released Wednesday. It was an appeal of a Fresno-based Fifth District Court of Appeal denial on Oct. 15.

The decision allows for Kings County to continue prosecuting its case.

Several women’s and reproductive rights groups also filed briefs supporting Becker.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported this story on Wednesday.

DON'T MISS

Royal Caribbean to Launch First-Ever San Diego Cruises in 2026

DON'T MISS

What Is Field Hockey? Fresno’s Sikh Community Explains

DON'T MISS

Sean Combs Sues NBC Over Documentary That He Says Defamed Him

DON'T MISS

European Detour Destinations Are 2025’s New Travel Trend

DON'T MISS

California’s Aging Population Will Test Whether Its Demography Is Destiny

DON'T MISS

A Former Firefighter in the Legislature Has Ideas. Will Democrats Listen?

DON'T MISS

Mind-to-Text: How AI Is Learning to Decode Brain Signals Into Sentences

DON'T MISS

NAACP Urges Support for Companies Upholding DEI Commitments

DON'T MISS

Rape Lawsuit Against Jay-Z and Diddy Dropped, Legal Battles Continue for Combs

DON'T MISS

Big Homeowner Rate Hike From State Farm Shot Down by California Regulator

UP NEXT

What Is Field Hockey? Fresno’s Sikh Community Explains

UP NEXT

Sean Combs Sues NBC Over Documentary That He Says Defamed Him

UP NEXT

European Detour Destinations Are 2025’s New Travel Trend

UP NEXT

California’s Aging Population Will Test Whether Its Demography Is Destiny

UP NEXT

A Former Firefighter in the Legislature Has Ideas. Will Democrats Listen?

UP NEXT

Mind-to-Text: How AI Is Learning to Decode Brain Signals Into Sentences

UP NEXT

NAACP Urges Support for Companies Upholding DEI Commitments

UP NEXT

Rape Lawsuit Against Jay-Z and Diddy Dropped, Legal Battles Continue for Combs

UP NEXT

Big Homeowner Rate Hike From State Farm Shot Down by California Regulator

UP NEXT

Draymond Green on the State of the NBA: It’s ‘Boring,’ the Warriors Star Says

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

European Detour Destinations Are 2025’s New Travel Trend

12 hours ago

California’s Aging Population Will Test Whether Its Demography Is Destiny

12 hours ago

A Former Firefighter in the Legislature Has Ideas. Will Democrats Listen?

13 hours ago

Mind-to-Text: How AI Is Learning to Decode Brain Signals Into Sentences

1 day ago

NAACP Urges Support for Companies Upholding DEI Commitments

1 day ago

Rape Lawsuit Against Jay-Z and Diddy Dropped, Legal Battles Continue for Combs

1 day ago

Big Homeowner Rate Hike From State Farm Shot Down by California Regulator

1 day ago

Draymond Green on the State of the NBA: It’s ‘Boring,’ the Warriors Star Says

1 day ago

DOJ Seeks to Drop Corruption Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

1 day ago

US Deports Immigrants to Venezuela After Judge Blocked Transfer to Guantanamo Bay

1 day ago

Royal Caribbean to Launch First-Ever San Diego Cruises in 2026

Royal Caribbean International is set to make history by basing a cruise ship in San Diego for the first time. Starting October 2026, Serenad...

11 hours ago

11 hours ago

Royal Caribbean to Launch First-Ever San Diego Cruises in 2026

12 hours ago

What Is Field Hockey? Fresno’s Sikh Community Explains

12 hours ago

Sean Combs Sues NBC Over Documentary That He Says Defamed Him

12 hours ago

European Detour Destinations Are 2025’s New Travel Trend

12 hours ago

California’s Aging Population Will Test Whether Its Demography Is Destiny

13 hours ago

A Former Firefighter in the Legislature Has Ideas. Will Democrats Listen?

1 day ago

Mind-to-Text: How AI Is Learning to Decode Brain Signals Into Sentences

1 day ago

NAACP Urges Support for Companies Upholding DEI Commitments

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend