Former Walnut Creek Attorney Convicted Of Sexually Abusing Minors
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, California – On March 2nd, a Contra Costa County jury convicted a former Walnut Creek real estate attorney on 27 felony counts related to the sexual abuse of children and the possession of child sexual abuse material. Jonathan Dean Bishop, 51, faces multiple life sentences after being…
Martinez Refining Fined $10 Million For Illegal Flaring, “Coke Dust,” Odor Violations
From the Office of the District Attorney Martinez, California – A joint prosecution by the Contra Costa District Attorney and Bay Area Air District has resulted in a $10 million penalty against Martinez Refining Company, along with compliance improvements at its Martinez refinery, and $600,000 in mitigation payments for supplemental environmental projects. Judge Benjamin T.…
Richmond Pastor Faces Life In Prison For Sexual Assaults On Minor
From the Office of the District Attorney Martinez, California – A jury in Contra Costa County reached a verdict that convicted a Richmond pastor of various offenses related to the sexual assault of a child. On February 4th, 2026, 52-year-old Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco was found guilty by a jury on five counts of aggravated sexual…
Jury Unable To Reach Verdict In Richmond PD Excessive Force Case
Martinez, California – A jury was unable to reach a verdict today in the trial of former Richmond Police officer Eric Smith Jr, accused of beating a man with his taser while attempting to make an arrest. Smith, 31, was charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office with assault with a deadly weapon and…
Ex-San Ramon Biology Teacher, Cheer Coach Gets Prison For Child Exploitation
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, California – Former San Ramon School District biology teacher and cheerleading coach Nicholas Brandon Moseby, 44, was sentenced to state prison on December 31st, 2025, after being convicted of sexually abusing and exploiting minors. Moseby was sentenced by the Honorable Joni T. Hiramoto to three years and…
Union City Woman Arraigned For Attempted Murder, Stalking, And Criminal Threats Against Teen Victim
From the Office of the District Attorney Martinez, California – On December 16th, a Union City woman was arraigned in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez on a five-count felony complaint for attempted murder, stalking, child abuse, and criminal threats. Xiaojie Zhang, 40, entered a plea of not guilty in court for the attempted murder…
Pleasant Hill Woman Gets Prison Time For Embezzling Walnut Creek Charity
The former finance manager of a Walnut Creek charity serving area youth has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for siphoning off over $1.6 million from the organization, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California said in a press release that Carrie Lynn Grant, 62, of Pleasant…
DA Files Murder Charge In San Ramon DUI Case
A 28-year-old Pleasanton man was drunk and speeding at more than 150mph seconds before his Tesla struck the rear passenger side of a Ford Bronco traveling west on Crow Canyon Road on Saturday, Nov. 29 – killing a Castro Valley woman inside – investigators say. Badal Devendra Dholaria was arraigned Thursday on a five-count felony…
Murder Charge Filed Against Martinez Mother In Stabbing Death Of Daughter
Martinez, California – A Martinez woman has been charged with murder after stabbing her daughter, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced Friday. Brittney Evanna Kazee, 36, faces one felony count of murder [PC 187(a)] with a deadly weapon enhancement for using a knife in the commission of the offense [PC 12022(b)(1)]. Kazee was arrested…
Jury Finds Aggravating Factors True In Former Teacher’s Sex Crime Conviction
Martinez, California – A Contra Costa County jury today (Wednesday) found that aggravating circumstances applied in the case of Nicholas Brandon Moseby, a former middle school teacher previously convicted of sex crimes against minors. The 44-year-old Concord man was found guilty on October 17th, 2025, following the first phase of his bifurcated trial. The convictions…