Trial set for SJB official accused in domestic incident

A jury trial date has been set the San Juan Bautista councilman accused in a May domestic incident.

San Benito County District Attorney Candice Hooper charged San Juan Bautista City Councilman Daniel J. DeVries on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and battery counts in connection with his arrest in a domestic incident May 24, according to court records. 

DeVries is represented by attorney Greg LaForge, whom he retained. 

Prosecutors charged DeVries with three counts: Battery on a non-cohabiting spouse or fiance, assault by means of creating great injury, and violating a court order to prevent domestic violence, according to records. With the D.A.’s charges, DeVries faces the potential for a sentence of up to one year in jail for each of the misdemeanor counts. 

The sheriff’s office on May 24 responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of Fifth Street in San Juan and contacted DeVries there. Investigators suspected domestic violence and took DeVries, 55, into custody.

The councilman was booked into the county jail and released on $50,000 bail at 11:26 p.m. that night, according to jail records.

The sheriff’s office accused him of inflicting corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition, a felony. A conviction on that recommended charge, which the D.A. reduced, could have resulted in up to four years in prison. 

DeVries and the suspected victim called the allegation exaggerated in the days after it occurred and said no injuries were involved.