Does "cited" imply "suspected" or even"accused"?

citation n. 1) a notice to appear in court due to the probable commission of a minor crime such as a traffic violation, failure to keep a dog on a leash, drinking liquor in a park where prohibited, letting a dog loose without a leash, and in some states for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Failure to appear can result in a warrant for the citee's arrest. 2) a notice to appear in court in a civil matter in which the presence of a party appears necessary, usually required by statute, such as a person whose relatives wish to place him/her under a conservatorship (take over and manage his/her affairs). 3) the act of referring to (citing) a statute, precedent-setting case or legal textbook, in a brief (written legal court statement) or argument in court, called "citation of authority." 4) the section of the statute or the name of the case as well as the volume number, the report series and the page number of a case referred to in a brief, points and authorities, or other legal argument. Example: United States v. Wong Kim Ark, (1898) 169 U. S. 649, which is the name of the case, the year when decided, with the decision found at volume 169 of the United States [Supreme Court] Reporter at page 649. A citation also refers to the case itself, as in "counsel's citation of the Wong case is not in point."

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_legal_definition_of_a_citation#ixzz1xViWiMkX

He is accused. In USA legal terminology a citation is a written or printed notice issued by a court or legal authority to a person suspected of a minor crime, ordering them to appear in court.

Being cited for a felony is the same as a minor crime; the accused is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

the accused is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Here is a problem: he is accused of the felony, not of a minor crime.

So the usage "cite" (citation) here seems not very appropriate.

oristarA wrote:

Here is a problem: he is accused of the felony, not of a minor crime.

So the usage "cite" (citation) here seems not very appropriate.

Correct. A better word would have been "charged" (L.A.-area authorities have charged John Bryson with felony hit-and-run in two car crashes that left him injured.).