Judge Grants Diversion to Encinitas Councilmember, Pausing Case With Path to Dismissal

Overview

• Vista Superior Court Judge Sara Kirby approved misdemeanor diversion for Councilmember Luke Shaffer, putting the case on hold while he fulfills court-ordered terms.
• The agreement requires eight hours of anger management classes, 60 hours of volunteer work, remaining law-abiding, and continued compliance with an existing protective order over several months.
• If he completes those terms, Shaffer can seek to have the case dismissed in as few as seven months, according to the court proceedings.
• At a prior preliminary hearing, a judge reduced an initial felony assault charge to a misdemeanor, left a misdemeanor hit-and-run count in place, and dismissed a charge tied to alleged abuse of his position.
• Prosecutors and testimony say the July 5 dispute near Moonlight Beach involved Shaffer moving trash bins and reversing his truck into them, with parts captured on video that has no audio.