SAN FRANCISCO — A shortage of public defenders and conflict attorneys led to an accused man being taken into custody after he left court without being assigned counsel, despite arriving on time for his initial hearing at the San Francisco Hall of Justice.
On Thursday, Aug. 13, Judge Matthew S. Kahn discharged a bench warrant issued against the man after he missed his arraignment. Conflict Attorney Martina Avalos was assigned to the accused at the same hearing in which the warrant was discharged.
The accused is charged with theft and has two open cases involving alleged thefts from the same store. He is also known to suffer from drug dependence…