Charging documents? OK, what’s the amount of the charge?

I have so far been unable to get the “charging documents” for a horrendous crime on California.

While reading one news article, I paused when I came to the phrase ‘charging documents’, which describes the crimes committed by the accused.

“The charging documents identified Jose Romero Perez as the other person killed and Pedro Romero Perez as the eighth victim, who survived.” (source)

Since words can have different meanings in different contexts, charge can mean a financial amount. If I went to a tailor, there would be a charge. What I believe is happening, and others have said the same, is that a commercial transaction is occuring and they are charging the man’s trust.

For the phrase “charging document”, the word ‘Document’ can be a financial term. Within accounting software, many entries–if not all entries–are called ‘documents’. It may be the case that ‘document’ is always a financial record, while a ‘paper’ or ‘letter’ or ‘declaration’ would mean something non-financial.

The district attorney said the courts would have the ‘charging documents’. Meaning, they gave me the run-around.

Right out of gates, I asked the man on the phone what was the amount of the charge. If there is a charge, I don’t need to know what type of charge, I want to know the amount of the charge.

More work to be done here. I simply wanted to bring attention to the phrase ‘charging document’. Just on it’s face I would say it seems odd. Could there just be a ‘list of crimes’?

Read the source article.