Some Misdemeanors Won't Be Prosecuted in Contra Costa County

If you commit a misdemeanor in Contra Costa County, you may be off the hook.

District Attorney Robert Kochly says because of budget cuts, the county won't prosecute certain misdemeanor crimes such as assaults, thefts and burglaries.

Beginning May 4, Kochly says his office will also stop prosecuting people caught with small amount of drugs -- less than a gram of methamphetamine or cocaine, less than half a gram of heroin and fewer than five pills of ecstasy, OxyContin or Vicodin.

Kochly says he was forced to "choose the lesser of certain evils" in deciding what cases to prosecute.

His office is facing a nearly $2 million budget deficit and plans to lay off 17 deputy district attorneys by the end of the year.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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