More Legal Problems For Martinez Mural Pair
Two people who came to national attention in 2020 after they filmed themselves attempting to blot out a freshly painted Black Lives Matter street painting in downtown Martinez are now facing additional, unrelated burglary charges according to a story published in the East Bay Times. Martinez residents David Nelson, 54, and Nicole Anderson, 43, were…
Concord Man’s Serial Fraud Nets Him More Than Five Years In Federal Prison
SAN FRANCISCO – Jason Blackard was sentenced today in United States District Court to 66 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of unauthorized access devices, and attempted mail theft, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Inspector in Charge…
Federal Use Of Force Complaints Filed Against San Ramon PD
Federal complaints alleging excessive use of force – including an allegedly crippling attack by a police dog on an unresisting subject – have been lodged against the City of San Ramon and its police department. Two complaints, one filed by a former gig worker who ran afoul of police after he fell behind on a…
Grandparent Charged In Death Of Stanley Middle School Crossing Guard
MARTINEZ – The Contra Costa Office of the District Attorney has filed misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges against Phyllis Meehan pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 192(c)(1) in the death of Stanley Middle School crossing guard, Ashley Steven Dias. “This tragic incident has impacted an entire community,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “The loss of Ashley Diaz…
Guilty Verdict Announced In Concord Hate Crime
From the Office of the District Attorney: Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced today (Wednesday, Dec. 1) that a jury has found Ross Farca of Concord, guilty of four felony charges and a misdemeanor hate crime relating to Farca’s June 4, 2019 possession of an assault weapon recovered after Facra posted anti-Semitic mass murder…
District Attorney Charges Retail Theft Defendant With Carjacking/Kidnapping
From the Office of the District Attorney: Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced today that her office has charged Philander Johnson, 30, in a four-count felony complaint with Robbery, Assault with a Deadly Weapon and two counts of Carjacking for Kidnapping. The charges stem from the November 24, 2021, crime spree which began at…
Bay Area Prosecutors Organize To Battle Retail Theft Crews
From the Office of the District Attorney: MARTINEZ – Today, Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced an alliance between San Joaquin, Alameda, San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, law enforcement, and state agencies to combat the recent increase in organized retail theft. Each office has pledged a prosecutor to collaborate and…
Martinez Resident Jeff Carpoff Gets 30 Years In Prison For Billion Dollar Ponzi Scam
Martinez resident Jeff Carpoff, who with his wife Paulette owned Benicia-based DC Solar, was sentenced today for his role in the billion-dollar Ponzi scheme Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert called the biggest criminal fraud scheme in the history of the Eastern District of California. The Carpoffs both pleaded guilty to the scam in January,…
Pleasant Hill Man Convicted Of Possessing Child Pornography; Attempting To Destroy Evidence
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, Calif. – On Tuesday October 26, 2021, after a six-day trial, a jury in Contra Costa County found 30-year-old Pleasant Hill resident Won Kwak guilty of aggravated possession of child pornography and destroying evidence. The jury found that on November 24, 2020, Kwak knowingly possessed over 600…
Mistrial Declared In Andrew Hall Manslaughter Case; Officer Found Guilty Of Excessive Force
Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputy – and contractually assigned Danville PD officer – Andrew Albert Hall has been found guilty of assault with a firearm in the fatal shooting of Laudemer Arboleda in Danville in 2018. A mistrial was declared in the manslaughter case against the officer. Jurors could not come to a verdict on…