Identity theft: jurisdiction.

Existing law provides that when multiple offenses occur in multiple jurisdictions and all of the offenses involve the same defendant or defendants and the unauthorized use of the personal identifying information of one person, then jurisdiction for all offenses is proper in any one of the counties where an offense occurred. This bill would provide, in addition, that when multiple offenses occur in multiple jurisdictions and all of the offenses involve the same defendant or defendants and either the same personal identifying information of one person or the same scheme or substantially similar activity, then jurisdiction for all offenses, including associated offenses connected together in their commission to an underlying identity theft offense, is proper in any one of the counties where one of the offenses occurred. Existing law requires a court to consider specified facts when determining if all counts in a complaint alleging multiple offenses of unauthorized use of personal identifying information occurring in multiple counties should be joined in one county for prosecution. This bill would, in addition, require the court to consider whether or not the offenses involved substantially similar activity or the same scheme when making that determination.