New Judges Appointed To Contra Costa County Superior Court
Governor Gavin Newsom announced his latest around of appointments to local courts this week, including two new judges for headed for Contra Costa County Superior Court. Hanni Fakhoury has worked as a partner of Moeel Lah Fakhoury since 2021. Fakhoury was an assistant federal public defender for the Northern District of California from 2015 to…
Parents Charged With Child Abuse In Walnut Creek e-Moto Crash; Enter Not Guilty Pleas
Parents of a teenaged boy making daily rides from their home in Benicia to his high school in Concord entered not guilty pleas via their attorneys after they were charged with child abuse following the boy’s serious crash on Treat Boulevard in Walnut Creek last year. Attorneys for Jeanna Gabellini and Steven Crews pleaded not…
Walgreens Ordered To Pay Six Million Dollars For Business Code Violations
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, California – Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton and other District Attorneys in the State of California reached a settlement with Walgreen Co. for six million dollars for violations related to expired baby food, drugs, and overcharging customers. The civil case and settlement centered on the company…
DA Charges Chico Man With Murder In Lafayette Hatchet Homicide
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, California – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has charged a Butte County man with the murder of a Lafayette resident. David Swank Prince, 35, is scheduled to be arraigned in court on March 25th for the murder of 34-year-old Christopher Jaber. Prince unlawfully and with malice…
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…