Fresno County firearms offense bail amounts increase

Bail for convicted felons who are caught with a firearm in Fresno County jumped dramatically this week, following efforts by Fresno police Chief Jerry Dyer and county District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp to reduce gun violence by gang members.

It was common before this week for a convicted felon arrested for possessing a firearm to bail out of Fresno County Jail for $10,000. That amount is now $100,000, according to Smittcamp. The district attorney said that she and Dyer recently took their case to judicial officials. In their presentation, they argued that bail amounts for firearms-related offenses should be in line with those of surrounding counties in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Dyer has publicly had his sights set on raising bail amounts since November, when he made note of the case of Domenek Greenberry, 19, accused of gunning down brothers Denzel Ford, 18, and Willie Ford, 19, at a northwest Fresno apartment on Oct. 1. Greenberry was arrested in May and again in July on charges of carrying a concealed weapon.

Smittcamp described the changes:

▪ PC 25400, carrying a concealed weapon, raised from $5,000 to $50,000;

▪ PC 25850, carrying a loaded firearm, raised from $5,000 to $50,000;

▪ PC 29800, possession of a firearm by a felon or narcotics user, raised from $10,000 to $100,000;

▪ PC 29900, possession by a person prohibited by California law, raised from $15,000 to $100,000;

▪ PC 30305, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, raised from $10,000 to $50,000.

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 2:26 PM with the headline "Fresno County firearms offense bail amounts increase."