The preliminary hearing for a Morgan Hill man accused of
assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and reckless driving
will likely begin next month.
The preliminary hearing for a Morgan Hill man accused of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and reckless driving will likely begin next month.
Joel Barnes, 40, evaded Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies three times last summer as they attempted to arrest him on warrants for felony false imprisonment and assault, and ran from Morgan Hill police on one occasion, prosecutors said.
Barnes provoked deputies into shooting at him while he escaped their capture by driving his truck at them, police said. The chase ended two days later, when deputies cornered Barnes at a home in Watsonville. Barnes again ran from police but a SWAT team and canine officers found him hiding inside nearby bushes.
He pleaded not guilty to his alleged crimes earlier this year.
Barnes also faces a litany of lesser charges, which range from misdemeanor battery to various weapons-related felonies, including possession of a machine gun, carrying a concealed dagger and possession of a weapon commonly known as a sap.
The charges carry more than 20 years of possible prison time.
Barnes previously served 11 years for voluntary manslaughter after killing the mother of his child with a single stab wound to the chest in 1995.
Barnes’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 16 in Department 24 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. Brooks said she doesn’t expect any more delays and estimated that the hearing will last two or three days.
