Disaster Recovery Center in Danville to remain open
(Martinez, CA) – Contra Costa County offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of Presidents’ Day. Emergency services and law enforcement will be available.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Contra Costa County Disaster Recovery Center will remain open from 10 am to 7 pm at 510 La Gonda Way in Danville to help residents impacted by recent winter storms. For more information, please see www.contracosta.ca.gov/9761.
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By Public Information Officer Ashley Crandell, Antioch Police Department Community Engagement Unit
On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 2:56 pm, the Antioch Police Department Communications Center received a call reporting shots fired at a residence in the 2300 block of “L” Street. Shortly after, a second call was received from an individual reporting they had been on the phone with a male at the residence when a gunshot was heard in the background. The caller believed the male had committed suicide.
Officers arrived and contacted bail bonds agents who indicated they had gone to the residence to take a 30-year-old male into custody for multiple outstanding felony warrants. As they approached the front door, they heard one gunshot from inside the residence. Officers received no response at the residence and forced entry to find a deceased male with a gunshot wound to the head. The male was found still holding a handgun. No other occupants were found inside the residence.
Officers continue to investigate the incident and ask any potential witnesses to contact our Dispatch Center at (925) 778-2441. We are not naming the victim at this time pending further notification of family members.
Read MoreOn Contractors State License Board’s Most Wanted list
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
On February 8th, 2023, a jury in Contra Costa County found 42-year-old Adan Contrera Rivas of Modesto guilty of multiple felonies and misdemeanors related to unlicensed contracting, fraud, theft, and failing to obtain workers’ compensation insurance.
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed an initial complaint against Rivas in March 2022 following an investigation into his actions that led to his eventual arrest. After his release on his own recognizance, Rivas was arrested again in November 2022 for posing as a licensed contractor in the landscaping and construction industry and stealing thousands of dollars from unsuspecting consumers. Prior to his offenses in Contra Costa County, Rivas had served time in the state prison for several related felony and misdemeanor convictions for grand theft, theft from an elder, and contracting without a license in Santa Clara County.
Deputy District Attorney Natasha Mehta, who prosecuted the case for the People, said: “The defendant defrauded numerous victims out of thousands of dollars. Justice was achieved for those harmed by Rivas in this case, and the jury’s conviction will help to protect consumers in the future.”
Rivas will be sentenced on March 8, 2022, in Martinez, and faces up to 9 years and 8 months in prison.
Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton notes, “My office is protecting consumers in the county by partnering with multiple government agencies like the Contractors State License Board and the California Department of Insurance. This partnership has been effective in conducting undercover sting operations, as well as, investigating unlicensed contractors who fail to obtain workers’ compensation insurance.”
According to the Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board website, Rivas was added to their Most Wanted List in 2015. Born in 1984 he used numerous aliases including Orlando Parras, Adam Contreras Rivas, Adam Rivas Contreras and Juan Rangel. Rivas operated under several business names including Parras Landscaping and Pavers, View Tree Service, High Tech Tree Care, New View Tree Care, New View Tree Service, One Way Tree Service, View Maintenance & Landscaping, View Landscaping & Tree Service, High Tech Tree Care.
Investigators believe Adan Rivas victimized more than two dozen Bay Area families by soliciting landscaping and tree removal services. According to investigators, Rivas usually focused his attention on more affluent neighborhoods, often targeting the elderly. It’s alleged that after reaching an agreement with a homeowner, Rivas would take an excessive down payment and then abandon the job.
When Rivas was added to CSLB’s Most Wanted in July 2015, most of the alleged crimes occurred in the cities of Danville, San Ramon, Alamo, Lafayette, Orinda, and Walnut Creek. In October 2016 this page was updated to reflect that it was believed Rivas was also using the name Orlando Parras of Parras Landscaping and Pavers and victimized homeowners in both Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.
Rivas was arrested on April 19, 2017 in Medford, Oregon, on felony charges of aggravated first-degree theft, first-degree theft, and on his California arrest warrant. He was ultimately charged in Santa Clara County with 25 counts of financial elder abuse, grand theft, larceny, unlicensed contracting, and failure to provide workers compensation insurance. On September 15, 2017, Rivas agreed to a plea bargain and pled guilty to eight of the 25 counts. On November 1, 2017, he reported to San Quentin State Prison to serve a 20-month prison sentence.
Unlicensed contractors pose a threat to consumers by failing to acquire skills and licensure when hired to perform home improvement or construction projects. Some unlicensed contractors illegally require excessive down payments for construction or landscaping projects, and frequently fail to begin or complete projects once they receive money. Consumers are often unaware unlicensed contractors have not completed background checks and usually do not carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees – which increases liability risks to consumers.
California law requires contractors to be licensed in their chosen specialty and to obtain the appropriate insurances, including workers’ compensation insurance. Moreover, contractors are legally required to conduct their business in specific ways, which includes restrictions on down payment amounts. For more information on how to verify a contractor’s license, go to cslb.ca.gov.
01-198386-5 | The People of the State of California vs. Rivas, Adan
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84535737114?pwd=dlhiQXhCaW56cWhIMGozK1NFMTFhUT09
April 11, 2023
May 9, 2023
Congressman presents Community College District with funding to decrease cost of higher education
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), a senior member of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, will launch an Education Listening Tour to visit schools across California’s 10th Congressional District to hear directly from educators, students, parents, and administrators about the challenges and opportunities they face to inform his work in Congress. The tour will kick off with the presentation of funding Congressman DeSaulnier secured for Contra Costa Community College District to reduce college textbook costs and expand access to higher education. Congressman DeSaulnier will present this funding at two campuses on Monday, February 13th and Tuesday, February 14th.
WHEN: Monday, February 13th from 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT
WHERE: Los Medanos College – Brentwood Center
WHO:
U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
Contra Costa Community College District Interim Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh
Los Medanos Center Interim President Pamela Ralston
OR
WHEN: Tuesday, February 14th from 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. PT
WHERE: Diablo Valley College – San Ramon Campus
WHO:
U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
Contra Costa Community College District Interim Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh
Diablo Valley College President Susan Lamb
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Sponsors needed
The Bay Point Community All-N-One will once again be hosting one of our biggest events, “The Unity In The Community” event on Saturday, June 24th, 2023 from 10am – 2pm. This is a Health & Wellness program for the community to be held at the Ambrose Community Center, 3105 Willow Pass Road, Bay Point, CA 94565.
To be a SPONSOR for the Unity in the Community Event please call contact us.
To REGISTER your organization to participate or for a table at the Unity in the Community event, please download and complete the registration form and submit it to us before April 17, 2023. Unity in the Community Table Res
For questions, please call Mr. Delano Johnson at (925) 812-2939, Irving Joe at (925) 858-2675 or Lovetta Tugbeh (925) 727-8291.
Please save the date & be on the lookout for more details to come in the near future.
Read MoreBy Matt J. Malone, Public Information Officer, Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa
Per Government Code Section 68084.1, the Court intends to escheat the sum of $201,665.09 in the Court’s Operations Fund that has remained unclaimed for a period exceeding three years. For more information on the unclaimed funds, please visit the Court’s website at:
https://www.cc-courts.org/fees/unclaimedfunds.aspx
The Court has published a legal notice in the East Bay Times and has sent letters to potential owners of these funds. If you believe that you are entitled to any of the funds, you must complete and submit a Claim Affirmation Form and Claim for Reimbursement. These forms and instructions are available at the above hyperlink. Claim forms must be postmarked no later than March 24, 2023.
Read MoreBy Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
On January 20, 2023, 62-year-old Kevin Jerome Easter has been found guilty of first degree murder. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office retried the case after the original conviction was overturned on appeal in 2019.
Easter shot his wife multiple times on the night of August 7th, 2013, in their Pittsburg residence. During his trial in 2014, his defense attorney declared that Easter was not competent to stand trial for his crimes, which included a firearm enhancement and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Competency issues were renewed in 2015 by his defense, but a judge ultimately found him guilty. He was sentenced to 65 years and eight months in prison. His appeal in 2019 reversed the conviction, resolved the competency issues, and returned the case to Superior Court for a retrial – where the prosecution prevailed in court.
“After many years, the victim’s family and the community have closure on a tragic and senseless murder,” said Deputy District Attorney Jordan Sanders. “This prosecution would not be possible without the hard work of the Pittsburg Police Department, the time and energy of the neighbors who came to testify about details which happened so long ago, and the victim’s family for having the strength to endure another trial. The overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt justified a conviction for first degree murder.”
Easter will be sentenced at a future date and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
04-197959-0| The People of the State of California vs. Kevin Jerome Easter
Read MorePart of statewide Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, 30 survivors identified
By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
Partners working in collaboration with the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force made 13 arrests during a weeklong statewide effort to recover survivors of human trafficking and apprehend their exploiters.
As a part of the statewide Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, task force partners conducted eight separate anti-human trafficking operations throughout Contra Costa County from January 23rd through January 28th, 2023. Their efforts yielded 13 arrests of suspected human traffickers and the identification of 30 survivors of human trafficking. All the victims had the opportunity to speak with a specialized human trafficking victim advocate and were offered services.
“My office stands ready to evaluate these cases for prosecution and hold traffickers accountable for their exploitation of vulnerable members of our community,” noted District Attorney Diana Becton.
The suspects were arrested on one or more of the following human trafficking or human trafficking related offenses: sex trafficking of an adult, a minor, pimping, and pandering. [PC236.1(b), PC236.1(c), PC266h, and PC266i].
Task Force Director, Katrina Natale, emphasized that “without the careful planning and collaborative efforts of a wide array of law enforcement and victim services partners, the important outcomes achieved through these operations would not have been possible.”
Participating agencies included, in alphabetical order:
- Brentwood Police Department
- California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- California Department of Industrial Relations
- California Employment Development Department
- California Highway Patrol
- Community Violence Solutions
- Concord Police Department
- Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office
- Contra Costa County FBI Safe Streets Task Force
- Contra Costa County Parole Department
- Contra Costa County Probation Department
- Contra Costa County Sherriff’s Department
- Federal Bureau of Investigations
- Hercules Police Department
- Homeland Security Investigations
- International Rescue Committee
- My Sister’s House
- Northern California Regional Intelligence Center
- Pinole Police Department
- Pittsburg Police Department
- Pleasant Hill Police Department
- Richmond Police Department
- San Pablo Police Department
- San Ramon Police Department
- Victim Services Division (FBI)
- Victim Witness Assistance Program (CCCDA)
- Walnut Creek Police Department
The Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force is co-led by the Office of the District Attorney for Contra Costa County and Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force Community Violence Solutions, a community-based 24-hour service provider for survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking. Founded in 2018, the Task Force aims to eradicate all forms of human trafficking in Contra Costa County through collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts to identify and support victims of human trafficking and to hold traffickers accountable through effective prosecution.
Anyone with information on suspected human trafficking (sex or labor) or related crimes is encouraged to make a report to your local law enforcement agency or the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Tip Line (925) 957-8658.
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Suicide by cop – with multiple drugs and alcohol in his system “Valdez said there was no way to solve his problem and that he wasn’t going to kill himself but would ‘let the cops do it for me’”
By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has determined San Pablo Police Officers were legally justified in their use of force against 45-year-old Sergio Baldemar Escalera-Valdez in 2021.
Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident reports (LEIFI) are conducted by the CCCDAO whenever a law enforcement officer or a civilian is shot, killed, or dies during an encounter with members of a police agency. The District Attorney’s Office conducts its own independent investigation into law enforcement fatal incidents to determine if officers are criminally liable for their actions. If evidence of criminal conduct is found during the DA’s investigation, a LEIFI report may be used in a trial as evidence – and will not be released to the public until the trial has concluded. However, if the DA’s Office determines that criminal charges will not be filed, the report will be released to the public in a timely manner.
District Attorney Diana Becton notes, “My promise to the voters of Contra Costa County has consistently been about prioritizing public safety, transparency, and increased accountability. When my office undertakes a LEIFI investigation, our goal is to thoroughly investigate the facts to determine criminal liability and detail those findings in a clear and comprehensive manner.”
The incident involving Valdez started around 2:25 in the afternoon on December 15th, 2021, in the parking lot of the Evergreen Market at 1330 Market Avenue in San Pablo. An employee at the market called 911 to report a white or Hispanic male in the parking lot holding a firearm. The employee also noted that it appeared the man was manipulating the firearm’s magazine.
When officers from San Pablo Police were dispatched to the area, they met at a staging area near the Evergreen Market to prepare to contact Valdez. A dispatcher radioed to the officers that the man was seen driving a red Toyota Tacoma recklessly out of the parking lot. Officers spotted the vehicle and pursued Valdez and got him to pull over. Officers noted that Valdez appeared to be moving around the cab of the truck in an unusual manner. With their weapons drawn, officers ordered Valdez to show his hands multiple times. He initially responded “No” but then placed his hands outside the window of the truck – where his hands appeared to be bloody. Valdez then exited the vehicle with his back toward the officers and had what appeared to be a firearm in his hand. When Valdez appeared to manipulate the weapon by “racking the slide” (i.e., pulling the pistol’s slide to the rear and releasing it – which is a movement consistent with loading a cartridge into a firearm’s chamber), he turned around and faced the officers. After repeated commands to drop the weapon, Valdez brought the weapon up. The officers, believing, they were in imminent danger of Valdez firing his gun at them, fired their weapons at him. After Valdez was no longer a threat, officers kicked away the gun – which was later identified as a BB-handgun. Emergency medical responders arrived on the scene, and attempted life-saving measures, and transported him to a local hospital where he later died from his wounds.
Witness statements from those who were related to Valdez noted that he had been depressed for several months due to financial difficulties. He also said to family members that he planned to kill himself. On December 15th about an hour before the 911 call was made, an employee from the Evergreen Market interacted with Valdez in the parking lot after Valdez called him over to his truck. Valdez attempted to give the worker money, but the worker refused. He then began to cry, and the worker offered to help him with whatever was causing him grief. Valdez said there was no way to solve his problem and that he wasn’t going to kill himself but would “let the cops do it for me.”
On December 16th, Dr. Arnold Josselson performed an autopsy on Valdez for the Contra Costa County Coroner. In his report, Dr. Josselson noted that Valdez had seven gunshot wounds, with a fatal wound to his chest that also penetrated his liver. Toxicology results noted Valdez tested positive for “methamphetamine, amphetamine, and THC (marijuana). It also revealed that Valdez’s blood alcohol level was .210 % (over twice the legal limit for driving under the influence).”
In its legal analysis, the District Attorney’s Office concluded that the officers’ actions in stopping Valdez in his vehicle and attempting to detain him were lawful – given the information officers received from the 911 call. Furthermore, the officers involved in the shooting were justified in their lethal use of force due to their reasonable belief that they needed to defend themselves against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. As such, no further action will be taken in this case.
The District Attorney’s Office notified the Valdez family about the publication of this report. A copy of the report has also been sent to the San Pablo Police Department, state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, and is available on the District Attorney’s website.
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