A California appeals court Monday upheld the assault and conspiracy conviction of former Santa Monica Police Chief James Butts Jr.'s daughter in connection with an attack on her landlord more than nine years ago.
The three-justice panel from the state's 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Ashley Melissa Butts' appeal of her conviction on multiple grounds. The 39-year-old was found guilty of masterminding an attack on her landlord in South Los Angeles.
The appellate court denied Butts' challenge to four rulings made by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo during the original trial. The panel also rejected the defense's request to conditionally reverse the conviction and order the trial court to consider whether Butts should be granted mental health diversion.
The case stems from allegations dating back more than nine years involving the assault on Butts' landlord in South Los Angeles.
Butts is the daughter of James Butts Jr., who previously served as Santa Monica police chief from 1991 to 2006 and currently serves as mayor of Inglewood.
The appellate decision represents the latest chapter in the legal proceedings that have stretched across nearly a decade since the original incident occurred.
Details about the specific nature of the assault or the conspiracy charges were not immediately available. The case was handled by the Los Angeles County Superior Court system before reaching the appellate level.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal covers Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and regularly handles criminal appeals from the region's superior courts.
Neither the mayor's office nor representatives for Ashley Butts immediately responded to requests for comment following Monday's ruling.
The conviction and subsequent appellate decision highlight ongoing legal troubles for the former police chief's family, though the case predates much of Butts Sr.'s current term as Inglewood mayor.
The appellate court's decision appears to conclude the legal challenge, though it was not immediately clear whether further appeals to higher courts might be pursued.
Edited by SMDP Staff