FRESNO (KMJ) — A Fresno Firefighter has been dismissed of all criminal charges in relation alleged sex crimes.
Jeffrey Sanchez is now a free man after all charges against him were thrown out. It was in connection with an alleged assault which was said to have taken place on December 19th 2014.
Prosecutors determined they don’t have enough evidence to proceed to trial. In a statement released by Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, they cite that the California Rules of Professional Conduct require that “if, after the institution of criminal charges, the member in government service having responsibility for prosecuting the charges becomes aware that those charges are not supported by probable cause, the member shall promptly so advise the court in which the criminal matter is pending.”
The District Attorney’s Office adds the charges were dismissed without prejudice, which means they can be re-filed at a later time if warranted.
“As this case progressed it got to a point where the District Attorney’s Office agreed with our position that the case should be dismissed rather than going to trial”, says his attorney Jeff Hammerschmidt.
“This has been very stressful for him and for his family. It’s interesting because he’s always had confidence that the system would work and that he would either be found not guilty or the case would [be] dismissed.”
“I think it’s been more stressful on his family who weren’t quite so sure. But his attitude was ‘since I am innocent, I know it’s all going to work out in the end’.”
His attorney says Jeffrey Sanchez just wants to get back to his work as a firefighter.
