Yolo County

The article went on to point out several inaccuracies or omissions that the Daily Democrat reprinted without fact-checking.  From our standpoint this is a problem as the public receives a very slanted view of what actually transpired and there is no effective media check against the DA’s PR campaign.

In March of 2009, the victim was walking to the store when he ran across a friend along with Angel Sanchez.  The victim did not know Mr. Sanchez prior to this date but was introduced by their mutual friend.  Together they walked back to Mr. Sanchez’s apartment and decided to start drinking alcohol.  In total there were individuals inside the apartment drinking.

Last week, a federal judge in San Francisco allowed a lawsuit to move forward that charges the unlawful collaboration between the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to unlawfully target, arrest, and detain Latinos in Sonoma County.

However, we also take issue with the notion that news covered by traditional media outlets, such as newspapers necessarily represent fair, unbiased, and accurate assessments of what has actually happened.  While we believe that individual reporters endeavor for journalistic standards of fairness and balance, the decisions made by editors introduce bias in terms of what gets covered and what does not get covered.  But just as important, newspapers given their lack of staffing and resources will often rely on third-party press releases and news accounts from government agencies to be printed, almost verbatim.

According to a release from the DA, the jury found Vasquez guilty of robbery with intentional use and discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, assault with a firearm causing great bodily injury and attempting to dissuade a witness. The jury also found that the crimes were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

In that op-ed that focused mainly on the particulars of the proposition, they argued, “We believe in drug courts and the real possibility that drug courts can help people escape addictions and turn their lives around.”

Kamala Harris is arguing that her office must first review the names and only after going to court for permission would her office alert defense attorneys to the officers’ problems.

Does that mean that defends are not being well-represented?  Tracie Olson, the County’s Public Defender, says no, but at the same time the resource gap between the District Attorney’s Office and public defense is perhaps too large to ignore.

“Navarro fue Sureño. Fue drogado. Tuvo un cuchillo. Sacó el cuchillo ante un agente de la policía. Otra vez, todos hechos.”

“Navarro was a Sureño. He was high. He had a knife. He pulled the knife on an officer. Again, all facts.”

Nevertheless, the Yolo County DA’s office, apparently overruling the judgment of Deputy District Attorney James Walker, who was assigned to this case, is pursuing this as a three strikes case and seeking to put Mr. Poirier in prison for life.

The settlement was announced on Monday by the district attorneys from Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, San Joaquin, Amador, and Monterey counties.  Yolo County DA’s office will receive $100,000 as part of the settlement.

After a potluck meal and election of new Yolo board members for 2010-11, special guest Abdi Soltani, Executive Director of NorCalACLU will provide a brief update of current ACLU activities, followed by Merin’s presentation.