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The Superior Court judge in Dana Stubblefield’s Morgan Hill rape case set the former San Francisco 49er’s bail at $500,000, after his attorneys argued his “very active” involvement in the community and modest financial means justified the release amount.Stubblefield, 47, has been held at Santa Clara County Jail since the conclusion of a preliminary hearing Jan. 19, when prosecutors added a gun enhancement to five felony charges he faces in connection with the alleged rape of a woman at his Morgan Hill home in April 2015.The gun enhancement could result in a prison sentence of 15 years to life if Stubblefield is convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Tim McInerny had asked the court to set Stubblefield’s bail at $1 million.Allen Sawyer, attorney for Stubblefield, asked Judge Jacqueline Duong to set bail at $500,000, adding that Stubblefield is willing to wear a GPS monitor, submit to random searches of his property and obey “any stay-away order” until the conclusion of the court proceedings.After hearing these arguments, Duong agreed to set bail at $500,000 and impose the GPS and search conditions. She also is prohibiting Stubblefield from possessing any weapons.Duong said she agreed to a bail amount appropriate for Stubblefield’s financial means due to “the defendant’s willingness to add non-monetary conditions to any consideration of bail,” among other factors.“I did not find by clear and convincing evidence that (Stubblefield’s) release would result in great bodily harm,” Duong added. “The court determines that concerns for public and victim safety do not require pre-trial detention.”Stubblefield’s attorneys filed a motion earlier this month in which they claimed they unearthed a short video on a pornography website of the alleged rape victim dancing nude, suggesting she lied during the preliminary hearing when she testified she had never been paid for sexual or nude acts. However, this evidence was not presented or even mentioned during Stubblefield’s Feb. 16 bail hearing at South County Courthouse.Stubblefield’s attorneys and McInerny spent about an hour meeting with the judge behind closed doors before the bail hearing. When the attorneys and judge returned to the open courtroom for the public hearing, Stubblefield was led out of a holding cell by bailiffs. He was not handcuffed, but wore jail-issued attire.The attorneys and judge did not specify what they discussed in private before the hearing. Duong said the private discussion attempted to “refocus (the defendant’s) framework for presenting information the court will consider” in Stubblefield’s bail request.Sawyer said the former NFL player has “long ties to the community”—including four children (two who live with him) and a history of active support for the Special Olympics.“This is his home,” Sawyer said.Sawyer added that Stubblefield “voluntarily” turned over a firearm to the police during the rape investigation, and reliably attended previous court hearings when he was out on bail for nearly two years following his 2016 arrest.Furthermore, due to Stubblefield’s financial situation, he has “limited ability to post bail” at an amount higher than $500,000, according to Sawyer. Stubblefield—who earned millions of dollars as a defensive end for the 49ers, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders—now has assets of about $169,000, which are held in a retirement account. He is currently unemployed, Sawyer added.Stubblefield previously posted 10 percent of $250,000 bail in the same case, shortly after Morgan Hill police arrested him in 2016, Sawyer said.Stubblefield faces five felony charges in relation to the alleged rape in 2015: forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, rape and oral copulation of a person incapable of consent, and false imprisonment.He was arrested by Morgan Hill Police in May 2016, after officers conducted a year-long investigation into the victim’s claim that Stubblefield raped her. The incident allegedly occurred April 9, 2015. The woman—whom investigators described as “intellectually disabled”—arrived at his home after Stubblefield contacted her through the website sittercity.com, according to police.After a brief job interview, the woman left, according to authorities. But Stubblefield called her back and offered to pay for her time. When she returned, he carried the woman to a room, raped her, forced her to perform oral sex and then gave her $80, according to police reports.The woman drove straight to the Morgan Hill police station from Stubblefield’s home to report the incident, according to authorities.Stubblefield’s next hearing is scheduled for April 12 at the Morgan Hill Courthouse.

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Morgan Hill City Councilman Larry Carr pleaded not guilty to domestic battery Feb.16 at the South County Courthouse.Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Duong issued Carr, 49, a one-year “peaceful contact order” that regulates the contact he can have with the alleged victim in the misdemeanor case.Carr is charged with domestic battery in relation to a Nov. 25, 2017 incident involving his girlfriend of 11 years, with whom he shared a home in downtown Morgan Hill at the time.Morgan Hill Police responded to the couple’s residence that evening, and arrested Carr after taking statements from him and his girlfriend. The woman had told police, during a lengthy verbal argument, that Carr “ripped the glasses from her face and threw them to the ground, causing them to break,” and pulled her hair in the process, according to the police report of the investigation.Carr told police at the time that any contact he made with his girlfriend during the argument was accidental. He has continued to deny the allegations since his arrest.The victim did not exhibit any injuries or indicate a complaint of pain, according to police.Carr’s next hearing on the domestic battery charge is scheduled for a March 19 pre-trial conference.Carr declined to comment on the case after the Feb. 16 hearing.Carr’s attorney Stuart Kirchick clarified that Carr and the alleged victim do not live together now. He added that the alleged victim requested the peaceful contact order, and DA’s office prosecutors agreed it was appropriate in this case.According to the Santa Clara Superior Court website, a peaceful contact order is a type of “criminal protective order” that “permit(s) contact between a defendant and the Protected Person, but only if that contact is peaceful in every way.” The judge may modify such orders to address specific conditions or issues that pertain to an individual case.Carr—who is currently serving in his fifth term as a Morgan Hill councilmember—was convicted of a similar misdemeanor charge in 2015, in relation to an incident at the couple’s previous home March 23. Carr pleaded no contest to domestic battery and completed a 16-week counseling program. The court later dismissed the charge from his record, at Carr’s formal request. Carr has also denied acting violently in that incident, and he pleaded no contest to avoid prolonged court proceedings.If Carr is convicted of the 2017 charge, the court can consider the 2015 conviction as a prior offense in his sentencing, according to authorities.

If you have ever considered running for local office in Santa Clara County, now is your chance.Monday, Feb. 12 kicked off the nomination period for the June 5, 2018 Statewide Primary Election. The nomination period ends Friday, March 9, but can be extended to Wednesday, March 14 for contests where the eligible incumbent doesn’t file.And while local Morgan Hill offices won’t appear on the ballot until November, City Council incumbent Rich Constantine has signaled he might run for mayor, and former two-term Councilwoman Marilyn Librers has tossed her hat back into the ring.Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey urged candidates running for office in June to call the Candidate Services Division at (408) 299-8639 or come to the office in order to review forms and requirements for successful filing.“There is no leeway in the filing deadline,” Bushey said. “It is always best to file nomination papers as early as possible so that any incorrect forms may be corrected before the filing deadline, which in most cases cannot be extended.”District 1 Supervisor Mike Wasserman, who represents Morgan Hill, said he intends to run for reelection.“It’s been my privilege to represent South County on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors,” Wasserman said. “I am seeking reelection in June 2018 and have been honored to receive a strong outpouring of support from local leaders in education, public safety, business, agriculture, and community members who share my passion for improving our county.”The following federal, state, and county offices are up for election in June:GovernorLieutenant GovernorSecretary of StateControllerTreasurerAttorney GeneralInsurance CommissionerSuperintendent of Public InstructionState Board of Equalization, District 2U.S. SenatorU.S. Representative District 17 (incumbent Ro Khanna)U.S. Representative District 18 (incumbent Anna Eshoo)U.S. Representative District 19 (incumbent Zoe Lofgren)U.S. Representative District 20 (incumbent Jimmy Panetta)State Senator District 10 (incumbent Bob Wieckowski)State Assembly District 24 (incumbent Marc Berman)State Assembly District 25 (incumbent Kansen Chu)State Assembly District 27 (incumbent Ash Kalra)State Assembly District 28 (incumbent Evan Low)State Assembly District 29 (incumbent Mark Stone)State Assembly District 30 (incumbent Anna Caballero)Santa Clara County Supervisor District 1 (incumbent Mike Wasserman)Santa Clara County Supervisor District 4 (incumbent Ken Yeager)Assessor (incumbent Larry Stone)District Attorney (incumbent Jeffrey F. Rosen)Sheriff (incumbent Laurie Smith)Judge of the Superior Court, 24 officesThe City of Morgan Hill will not participate in the June primary, and instead will hold elections for local offices in November. The nomination period for the Nov. 6 election opens July 16 and closes Aug. 10.This will be the city’s first council election in the district format. Candidates will need to reside in the districts they are seeking office in. The mayor’s seat will still be elected at large.Three seats will appear on the November ballot, including Mayor Steve Tate, District B Constantine and District D Councilwoman Caitlin Robinett Jachimowicz.Jachimowicz is currently nine months pregnant and said she hasn’t decided if she’ll run to retain her seat later this year. She was appointed to her council seat in January 2017 to complete the unexpired term of former Councilmember Gordon Siebert.“I want to make sure the baby is healthy,” Jachimowicz said by phone Tuesday. “After that, I’ll be able to make some more decisions.”According to City Clerk Irma Torrez, Constantine has already filed a Form 501, candidate intention statement, to run for mayor in 2018.Constantine said that he opened a committee to explore the possibility of a mayoral run, but paperwork for a possible campaign wouldn’t be filed until June.“I think I have a lot to offer Morgan Hill in the higher capacity than just as a city councilmember,” Constantine said by phone Tuesday.Former Councilwoman Marilyn Librers also filed a Form 501 to seek an open council seat in the November 2018 election. Librers served two terms on the council from 2008 to 2016, but was defeated in the November 2016 election.Additionally, the Morgan Hill Unified School District will hold their election in November. Four trustees are up for reelection, including Donna Ruebusch, Ron Woolf, Gino Borgioli and David Gerard. Also, Claudia Rossi’s seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Trustees is also up for election in November.Candidates are encouraged to make an appointment and begin the nomination filing process as early as possible to ensure all paperwork is completed and submitted on time.For more information, contact the Registrar of Voters’ Office at (408) 299-VOTE or toll-free at (866) 430-VOTE, or visit sccvote.org.

The top floor of Morgan Hill’s downtown parking garage is expected to reopen at the end of March.The City of Morgan Hill closed the top floor of the structure in September 2017 after reports of adults and youth climbing on the roof ledges, cars speeding within the structure, skateboarding and cycling at high rates of speed, loitering, littering and vandalism.The closure affects 50 parking spaces, but not for much longer.“At the same time the closure was implemented, several other immediate improvements were completed,” Community Services Director Chris Ghione said via email.Last September, the Morgan Hill City Council approved $200,000 from the city’s public utilities fund for improvements to the downtown parking garage. Construction of improvements could end with a lower price tag than the total funds allocated, according to city staff.Surveillance cameras have been added to the structure, as well as increased signage notifying people in the garage of the cameras, and listing the prohibited activities inside the structure.Additional improvements include extra signage, improvements to prevent roof access, and temporary fencing used to block off the top floor.“The fencing has proven to be a very effective measure and people attempting to climb over the fencing has not been an issue,” Ghione said.While the top floor is closed, Ghione said the city may remove the temporary fencing during major events when high use is anticipated. The closure is intended to reduce the inappropriate use that occurred when the top floor was empty.“The security fencing, improvements, and regular patrol by Morgan Hill Police Department has resulted in a very significant reduction in issues occurring at the parking structure,” he said.While the city is still considering options for permanent improvements to prevent access to ledges, the intention is to create barriers similar to walls and to have them in place when the top floor is permanently reopened.Look forward to additional parking and rooftop views again at the end of the March.The downtown parking garage, located between East Third and Fourth streets on the east side of Monterey Road, cost about $9 million and was built with leftover Redevelopment Agency funds in 2016. The 3.5-story structure houses about 270 parking spots, as well as public art, bicycle lockers and electric vehicle charging stations.

BurglaryA resident of Saint John Court returned home to find the rear sliding door broken, and other signs that someone had broken into the home. The burglary was reported 4:36pm Feb. 7.A thief or thieves stole a rifle and a shotgun from a residence on Barrett Avenue. The crime was reported 12:42pm Feb. 8.A burglar or burglars broke into a building at Live Oak High School, 1505 E. Main Ave., broke a gate and a truck window, and vandalized the surveillance cameras. The incident was reported 5:22am Feb. 9.Accident, DUIThe driver of a Honda Accord was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after colliding with a Toyota FourRunner near the intersection of East Dunne Avenue and Church Street. The accident and arrest were reported 6:12pm Feb. 7.Petty theftTwo men were seen crawling into a clothing bin on Laurel Road, stealing the donated items inside. The theft was reported 8:07pm Feb. 7.VandalismSomeone shot pellets from a BB gun through the front window of a residence on La Mesa Court. The vandalism was reported 8:50pm Feb. 7. Narcotics complaintA witness reported the driver of a green Camaro was rolling a joint and smoking one while driving in the area of Butterfield Boulevard and East Dunne Avenue. The incident was reported 7:41am Feb. 8.All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

Morgan Hill Police arrested a motorist on the edge of downtown on suspicion of vehicle theft following a “high-risk” traffic stop Feb. 9, according to authorities.Just before 3pm, police saw a vehicle that had been reported stolen traveling eastbound on West Main Avenue, west of Monterey Road. Officers initiated a traffic stop and the vehicle pulled over to the side of West Main Avenue.Police approached the vehicle with guns drawn, but the driver—the sole occupant of the vehicle—“complied and was taken into custody,” MHPD Cpl. Scott Purvis said.The driver was identified as Abraham Arrellano, 23, Purvis said. Officers determined that Arrellano was on probation out of Monterey County for auto theft.

Organizers of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California on Thursday formally announced the news that has excited local cycling enthusiasts, city officials and tourism proponents for several weeks—the statewide cycling tour will sweep through Morgan Hill on May 16.

Former San Francisco 49ers defensive end Dana Stubblefield’s lawyers filed a motion asking the court to set bail in his rape case, according to authorities, despite the recent addition of a gun enhancement to the charges.The Times was unable to obtain a copy of the motion before press time because Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Duong was reviewing it before she decides whether to schedule a bail hearing for Stubblefield, according to Santa Clara County Superior Court spokesman Benjamin Rada. Stubblefield has been in custody at Santa Clara County Jail since the conclusion of his preliminary hearing Jan. 19.A recent news report noted that the defendant’s motion to set bail, filed Feb. 5, argues that new evidence shows Stubblefield paid the alleged rape victim for a consensual sexual encounter at his Morgan Hill home in April 2015. Morgan Hill Police have said that Stubblefield contacted the woman for a job interview through a babysitting website, and raped her shortly after she arrived at the home. The woman added during testimony in the recent preliminary hearing that he threatened her with a handgun while he raped her.  Stubblefield, 46, faces a total of five felony charges in relation to the alleged rape of the victim, who is in her 30s, according to authorities. These charges are forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, rape and oral copulation of a person incapable of consent, and false imprisonment. On Jan. 19, prosecutors added a gun enhancement to the charges based on the victim’s testimony, sending him back to jail without bail.Stubblefield has pleaded not guilty to the charges.According to the San Jose Mercury News, Stubblefield’s latest motion claims his lawyers unearthed a short video on a pornography website of the woman dancing nude. The video is allegedly available to paying customers, and the motion argues it proves the woman lied under oath when she testified she had never been paid for sexual or nude acts, according to the Mercury News.Santa Clara County Deputy District Tim McInerny told the Times that the defense attorneys’ use of this evidence amounts to “victim shaming.”“To file a motion with evidence about a person’s sexual history is victim shaming,” McInerny said. “It is tone deaf in the ‘Me Too’ and ‘Time’s Up’ environment we’re living in. Victims have rights. This victim’s rights are being violated in an egregious and terrible way. It will be up to a judge to determine what, if any evidence, is admissible in the courtroom.”Stubblefield was arrested by Morgan Hill Police in May 2016, after officers conducted a year-long investigation into the victim’s claim that the former NFL star raped her. The incident allegedly occurred April 9, 2015. The woman arrived at his home after Stubblefield contacted her through the website sittercity.com, according to police.After a brief job interview, the woman left, according to authorities. But Stubblefield called her back and offered to pay for her time. When she returned, he carried the woman to a room, raped her, forced her to perform oral sex and then gave her $80, according to police reports.The woman drove straight to the Morgan Hill police station from Stubblefield’s home to report the incident, according to authorities.Stubblefield said in a statement after he was released on $250,000 bail following his arraignment in 2016, that he had consensual sex with the woman he is accused of raping. He denied all the charges at that time.Investigators have also claimed the woman is “intellectually disabled.” Stubblefield’s attorneys have disputed this claim.Stubblefield’s attorney did not immediately return a phone call requesting comment about the Feb. 5 bail motion. Stubblefield is next scheduled to appear in court Feb. 16 for a hearing to set his trial date.Stubblefield was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1993 draft, and played for the team until the end of the 1997 season. He then played for the Washington Redskins, and returned to the 49ers for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. He then played for the Oakland Raiders in 2003.

When Morgan Hill Jeep Dodge Ram and Fiat opens, expect the dealership to showcase the same sort of flash and showmanship as owner and reality TV star Josh Towbin. It wasn’t the glitzy showmanship of San Francisco or San Jose that brought the new dealership here, but the charm of Morgan Hill itself that enchanted Towbin to expand his brand into California.