A West Sacramento man is now facing charges of attempted murder with a knife after being arrested by the West Sacramento Police Department on September 15th. However this is just the latest crime allegedly committed by Denis Bugreyev, 25, over about a four week period. He's been arrested and released five time since the middle of August, according to Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig. Reisig blames the emergency zero bail policy adopted in April by the Judicial Council for the California court system during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy was considered a way to prevent the spread of the virus behind bars by allowing many people arrested following its adoption to go free without posting any bail while waiting for a court appearance.
In June, the Judicial Council rescinded its emergency bail mandate, but Reisig says the Yolo County Superior continues to use the policy.
On August 18th Burgreyev was placed on felony probation, after he was convicted in Yolo County for a for a potentially deadly assault, says Reisig. Between the time he was placed on probation for that assault and his most recent attempted murder charge, Burgreyev was arrested for felony possession of a concealed knife and giving a fake name to a police officer, public intoxication, and for violating multiple court orders.
Bugreyev sat in jail for two days before being arraigned for the attempted murder and the other charges on September 17th. That's when he entered a not guilty plea, and the judge set his bail at zero. His next court date is October 1st.
Currently, there is no plan to end the emergency bail policy in Yolo County, according Reisig. That has him concerned about public safety.
Since the middle of April, over 260 have been arrested and released on zero bail a total of 305 times, with some released for multiple offenses, just like Bugreyev. The Yolo County criminals who have reoffended since their release on zero bail have committed over 240 more crimes, Reisig noted in early September.