San Francisco: Judge dismisses three charges against man who attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husband

A judge in San Francisco on Thursday morning dismissed some of the most serious state charges against the man who attempted to kidnap then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacked her husband with a hammer in their Pacific Heights home.

Shortly after 11 a.m., Judge Harry Dorfman ruled in favor of the defense and dropped charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse, arguing that David DePape had already been convicted of those offenses in federal court.

DePape, 44, was sentenced to 30 years in a federal prison during a hearing in U.S. District Court on May 28. His trial began the next day in San Francisco Superior Court.

Thursday’s surprising verdict will delay the trial by at least a week. The prosecution and defense attorneys plan to appeal the verdict.

DePape still faces several serious crimes that could result in a life sentence.