RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — A woman who was shot at by Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Rancho Cordova last year was found not guilty of assaulting a police officer Thursday.
The jury ultimately said Kyrieanna Liles wasn’t trying to hurt anyone as she drove away from deputies, acquitting her of the charge.
It all started more than six months ago, Nov. 20, 2023, when deputies were called to Augibi Way in Rancho Cordova about a woman allegedly breaking into a home with a knife.
Deputies got to the area, found the home and people inside to be safe, and found Liles sitting in a car parked in her driveway nearby.
Deputies say when they asked Liles to get out of the car, she drove away, prompting them to fire at her car at least seven times. She was shot in the arm by the gunfire.
She was arrested and eventually held to stand trial, being accused of assaulting a peace officer.
Liles has spent the last six months in jail and is finally on her way home after her defense team won her case.
“Justified is probably the only word that comes to mind. I'm glad I didn't give up. I'm glad she didn't give up. Because there were times when both of us wanted to give up,” said Jamie Kristen, Liles mother.
During the trial, Liles’ lawyer argued she wasn’t trying to run over a deputy and didn’t see them as she tried to drive away. The jury ultimately agreed she wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, acquitting her of the charge.
“The evidence clearly showed that my daughter was innocent,” said Kristen. “(I’m) super happy that my daughter is out. She didn't deserve to be in there and she's just not a hardened criminal. She doesn't think like one.”
Public Defender Carrie Claremon says she had to convince the jury Liles was not guilty, because the court would only let the jurors see the footage of the incident before deputies fired the shots.
“The deputies on the stand at her trial have admitted that she committed no crime at her neighbor's house,” she said.
She said the case would’ve been easier had the jury been able to see all evidence regarding the case.
“The court ruled that anything having to do with the officer shooting at Miss Lyles was irrelevant and therefore excluded… If the jury had seen the whole video, they would have seen the fact that she straightened out her car and did not continue to run her car at the deputy.”
Claremon says the two men who shot at Liles are still working as deputies and Kristen says she’s still looking for accountability.
“(They) think it's okay to lie to us. It's not,” said Kristen.
The sheriff’s office says they cannot comment due to the pending civil case the family brought against the county, sheriff’s office, Rancho Cordova police and the deputies involved alleging false detention and excessive force as Liles was having a mental health crisis.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said the same, but added they’re continuing to investigate the shooting.
The civil case’s next hearing is scheduled for July.
