Judge knocks 5 counts off Patel case

A Kern County judge dismissed five criminal charges Monday, but left 16 others in place, in the high-profile case of a woman accused of threatening Bakersfield elected and appointed officials during a City Council meeting April 10.

During hours of argument between a prosecutor and a defense attorney, Kern County Superior Court Judge Brian McNamara ruled there was insufficient evidence to send defendant Riddhi Patel for arraignment on all 21 of the proposed charges.