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'Did You Know...?'
Issue 6, 2016
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Welcome to the sixth edition of our 'Did You Know...?' newsletter for 2016.
It has been a busy month for us in the office! Find out just some of the things we have been up to in the articles below.
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In this issue:
- The 5th class of the DA's Justice Academy graduates
- DA O'Malley hosts discussion on gun violence
- Consumer protection settlement reached with Shell
- Convicted Human Trafficker to receive sentence of over 200 years in prison
- National Night Out 2016
- Jury reached guilty verdict in DUI murder of US Marine
- DA's Office supports blood drive
- Felony verdicts
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Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley attended the graduation ceremonies last week for the seventy-five high school students who successfully graduated from the District Attorney's Justice Academy (DAJA). The award-winning program is a six month learning and working experience for high school students (ages 16 and up) that teaches about the many facets of the justice system while encouraging critical thought and civic engagement.
The DAJA students attend twice monthly seminars in the Spring, led by experts in the field. These meetings encourage students to think critically and analytically, research, ask questions, and problem-solve. During the summer, the DAJA students are placed in a paid internship with a government agency, non-profit organization, office of an elected official, or private law office. Read more about the DAJA Program...
At the conclusion of the program, the students from the three cohorts (Tri-Valley, Eden, and North County) presented a persuasive oral argument on a topic from the seminar series. This year, topgroups spoke about topics including intellectual property, immigration, and affirmative consent. Congratulations, DAJA graduates!
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DA O'Malley Hosts Discussion on Gun Violence
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Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley and Congressman Eric Swalwell recently hosted Patrick Grady, Member of the British Parliament, at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse to discuss gun violence issues.Patrick Grady was elected in 2015 as the Member of Parliament for Glasgow North in Scotland, and shadowed Congressman Swalwell as part of an educational visit to the United States.
The event, highlighting the nations’ differing attitudes on gun ownership and violence, featured a display of dozens of firearms used in violent crimes in Alameda County. DA O’Malley spoke of an Oakland mother who was shot to death in 2015 while shielding her two children from a gang-related gunfight.
“We can’t just keep escalating the firepower – we have to really address the guns in our community and do our best to get those off our streets,” said O’Malley. “It’s not about stopping people from owning guns, it’s just making sure that people who own guns are the people who should.”
Scottish police forces recorded a total of 374 offenses in 2013-14 in which firearms – mostly imitation firearms and air weapons – were allegedly involved; only 43 of those led to injury or death. In contrast, Oakland alone saw 72 shooting homicides in 2014; there were 1,169 in California that year, and 8,124 across the United States – with many thousands more assaults, robberies and other crimes involving firearms.
Read more about the event... or watch the Facebook Live feed from Congressman Swalwell.
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DA Announces Consumer Protection Settlement with Shell
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On Jul 25, 2016, DA O’Malley announced that Equilon Enterprises LLC, dba Shell Oil Products US (“Shell”), entered into a stipulated judgment to resolve consumer protection and misleading advertising violations related to Shell gift cards and fuel rewards cards. Counties of Monterey, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma joined Alameda County in bringing this consumer protection action. Under the terms of the stipulated judgment, Shell agreed to pay $762,500 in civil penalties, costs, and restitution, and to injunctive terms to ensure future compliance. Read more about the case...
"My office is committed to ensuring that California’s consumer protection and false advertising laws are followed,” says DA O’Malley. “It is vital that we work to protect consumers and create a level playing field for all businesses.”
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Human Trafficker Convicted
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Recently, a jury found violent offender Shanden Stanley guilty as charged of attempted and premeditated murder, domestic violence, kidnapping, criminal threats, assault with a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The complicated case involved a victim who was trying to end a relationship with Defendant Stanley, who was also the father of one of her children and, at times, her exploiter. Events escalated on October 31, 2013, and culminated in Defendant Stanley shooting the victim once in the head and twice in the arm in a brutal attack that left the victim fighting for her life. Read more about the case...
Defendant Shanden Stanley is scheduled to be sentenced to on August 15, 2016, and faces more than 200 years in prison for these crimes. The case was prosecuted by DDA Allyson Donovan of our HEAT Unit, with assistance from DA Inspector Gino Guerrero and Victim-Witness Advocate Liliana Bueno.
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DA's Office Supports Blood Drive
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In between community meetings on July 13, 2016, DA Nancy O'Malley, Chief Assistant DA Kevin Dunleavy, and our summer intern Hannah, delivered snacks and drinks to support County employees donating blood at the Alameda County Blood Drive.
We at the DA's Office are proud to support the County and the Red Cross in this effort, and events such as these are a great way to contribute to the community in a personal and meaningful way. By donating blood, you may well be giving someone the gift of life.
We had a number of our employees donate blood at the County-organized Blood Drive, and encourage you to think about doing the same. Find out how you can donate blood by visiting http://www.redcrossblood.org/.
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On August 2, 2016, staff from our office participated in the 33rd Annual National Night Out events all around the county. From Fremont to Oakland and to the Tri-Valley, our staff attended block parties to speak about the work we do at the DA's Office, the services we can provide victims of crime, as well as answer any questions they had for us. View a photo album of some of the events we attended.
National Night Out is a yearly event that encourages neighbours to get to know one another better, so as to reinforce the community bonds that make neighborhoods safer and stronger. Thank you very much to all of the neighborhoods that welcomed us!
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Jury Reaches Verdict in DUI Murder of US Marine
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A jury found defendant Alexander David Yohn guilty of the second degree murder of US Marine Andrew Silva, as well as gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Read more about the case...
Defendant Yohn's blood alcohol level approximately one hour after the collision which killed Andrew Silva (who had recently returned from overseas deployment) was .23%. Defendant Yohn additionally had Suboxone, an opiate used to help with his heroin addiction, in his system. The defendant had been previously convicted of driving under the influence in 2010, where he had a blood alcohol level of .24% and had collided with a parked car.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Ashley Dodson with the assistance of DA Inspectors Robert Davila and Gus Galindo and Victim-Witness advocates Jennifer Mello and Rhoden Briones.
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People v Bradley Craig Mathes
Defendant Bradley Mathes was sentenced to 7 years 8 months in state prison on July 7, 2016.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Veronica Rios Reddick with the assistance of DA Inspector Robert Davila.
People v Carter Hunter and Giovante Douglas
Defendants Cartier Hunter and Giovonte Douglas were convicted for the premeditated first degree murder of Charles Hiawatha Butler. Defendant Hunter was found to have personally discharged a firearm causing death or great bodily injury, and convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Read more about the case...
Defendant Cartier Hunter and Defendant Giovonte Douglas are scheduled to be sentenced on September 9, 2016.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Butch Ford with assistance from DA Inspector Caesar Basa and Victim-Witness Advocate Stephanie Lynch.
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Do you have a question for the District Attorney?
If you would like to see a particular question answered in our next newsletter, please email us at
info@alcoda.org.
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HEAT Watch is the anti-human trafficking program run by the DA's Office. It coordinates the response to help fight trafficking in the Bay Area and beyond.
Point of View
The well-known legal educational tool written and published by the DA's Office.
Find out when the next court date is for a particular case. Available 24/7.
Find out the custody status of a person of interest. Available 24/7.
We provide speakers for your next school or community meeting who come to you with decades of expertise about the law, the criminal justice system and how we at the DA's Office can help you if you have been the victim of a crime.
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