A California radiologist accused of trying to kill his family by driving off a cliff along the northern California coast will receive mental health treatment instead of standing trial, a judge ruled.
Dharmesh A Patel, 43, faced attempted murder charges after the Tesla he was driving fell off a 250ft (76 meters) cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway in San Mateo County. The crash on January 2, 2023, injured his wife and two young children, but all four survived, which one official called an “absolute miracle.”
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe expressed disappointment with the judge’s decision on Wednesday.
“I am disappointed with the court’s decision, but Judge Jakubowski carefully weighed the evidence and the facts and went the other way,” he said.
Patel, who was on a family road trip from Pasadena to the Bay Area, will complete a two-year mental health outpatient treatment program at a Bay Area hospital. If he completes the program, the charges will be dropped, according to Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski’s ruling last week, as reported by KRON-TV.
Patel’s defense attorney, Joshua Bentley, argued that the radiologist qualifies for mental health diversion under California law.
“It’s important to understand why we are here. Not everyone who commits a crime is a criminal. There is no question this is a very serious case. But the law encompasses this very situation,” Bentley told the judge.
Bentley stated that Patel does not pose a danger to the community because he will be under intensive psychiatric treatment and monitored with a GPS bracelet equipped with a siren.
Deputy District Attorney Dominique Davis argued that Patel should not qualify for a mental health diversion program because he poses “an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety,” as reported by KRON-TV.
Patel’s wife testified that she does not want her husband prosecuted. She said her children miss their father and want him to return home, according to the TV station.
Davis said the evidence showed that in the weeks leading up to the attempted triple murder, Patel experienced paranoia and delusions, symptoms of schizoaffective disorder.
The judge agreed with Patel’s defense, noting that Patel did not have a history of violence and that his major depressive disorder diagnosis played a significant role in his actions.
Patel, who has been in jail without bail since his arrest, will be held for several more weeks before being released to his parents’ home in Belmont, California. He will be monitored by GPS, must surrender his driver’s license and passport, and will need to check in with the court weekly, the judge ruled.
