Richmond Man Gets 27 Years In Prison For 2018 Residential Robbery
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, Calif. – Last week, defendant Paul Simmons (Muscat) of Richmond was sentenced to 27 years in state prison by the Honorable John Cope for the first degree residential robbery of a female victim. On August 12, 2021, a Contra Costa County jury found Simmons guilty as charged…
Fritzky Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison Despite Plea for “Mercy”
Justice caught up with Francis Robert “Bob” Fritzky in U.S. District Court on Friday. The former Moraga resident and treasurer of the Moraga Community Foundation found himself looking at 18 months in federal prison – not quite the sentence the people he bilked out of more than $300,000 in 2018 and ’19 had wished for…
Contra Costa County DA’s Office Selected For Resentencing Pilot Program
Martinez, Calif. – Last Friday, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office was notified our office was selected to be a participant in the California County Resentencing Pilot Program. Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a budget bill which contained funding for the pilot program. The pilot program starts September 1 and consists of nine participating…
Former County Clerk-Recorder Joe Canciamilla Pled Guilty to 9 Counts
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, Calif. – Yesterday, defendant Joe Canciamilla pled guilty to perjury and grand theft, totaling nine counts, for illegal activity tied to his multiple political campaign bank accounts. The District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against Canciamilla last year. Canciamilla previously served as the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and…
Danville Deputy Enters Not Guilty Plea In 2018 Shooting Case
The Danville police officer at the center of the town’s two officer-involved shooting cases entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment Wednesday in the 2018 death of Newark resident Laudemer Arboleda. Andrew Hall’s attorney maintained during the hearing and meeting with reporters outside of court that his client took appropriate action while acting in…
Pair Found Guilty Of Moraga Home Invasion Robbery
Two men were found guilty for their roles in a chaotic 2019 home invasion-style robbery on Donald Drive in Moraga – an incident apparently prompted when one of the men felt shorted in a marijuana deal made at the residence the evening before. A jury found Azrael Vargas, 20, guilty on five counts and four…
District Attorney Announces Filing Of Felony Charges Against Danville Officer For Arboleda Shooting
District Attorney Diana Becton announced the filing of voluntary manslaughter and assault charges against a Danville police officer who shot and killed a Newark man after a slow speed pursuit through town on Nov. 3, 2018. Becton announced that her office had filed felony charges of voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semi-automatic weapon against…
Clayton Resident Pleads Guilty To Online Child Exploitation Offense
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, Calif. – Today, 41-year-old Clayton resident Daniel Paul pleaded guilty to unlawfully communicating with a minor for the purposes of engaging in sex, in violation of California Penal Code section 288.3(a). Pursuant to the plea agreement before the Honorable John Cope, Paul was sentenced to 120 days…
Private Guards Hired By Anti-Abortion Activists In Walnut Creek Charged With Battery, Tear Gas Violation
Two private, armed security guards who pepper sprayed abortion rights demonstrators during a protest outside the Walnut Creek Planned Parenthood officers last fall have been charged in the incident, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Friday. Ishatpal Momi, 27, of Elk Grove and Peter Reeves, 45, of Sacramento face misdemeanor charges of battery and illegal…
Charges Filed In El Sobrante Homicide Case
From the Office of the Sheriff: The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed murder and attempted murder charges against 23-year-old Pierre Jackson of Antioch/Brentwood in connection with a homicide that occurred on March 31, 2021 in El Sobrante. On March 31, 2021, at about 8:41 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a…