Contra Costa Herald

William Cashell arrest photo. Courtesy of Johnson County, KS Sheriff.

William “Will” Cashell. Photo from his Facebook page.

Martinez, Calif. – Yesterday, Tues., August 27, 2019, a grand jury indictment was unsealed against defendant William Cashell, a 44-year-old resident of Walnut Creek, California and Johnson County, Kansas. He was indicted for two counts of possession of child pornography.

Cashell appeared in Martinez, California for an arraignment in Department 263 before the Honorable David Flynn. Cashell pleaded not guilty to the charges alleged in the indictment. Cashell remains out of custody on his own recognizance. Deputy District Attorney Scott Prosser is the prosecutor assigned to the case on behalf of the People. DDA Prosser is with our Sexual Assault Unit.

On May 2, 2019, investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a warrant at Cashell’s residence after it was discovered he was storing child pornography in his e-mail account. Investigators also located child pornography on a smartphone belonging to Cashell. Cashell was initially charged in a criminal complaint on June 11, 2019 and remained at large until July 20, 2019 when was arrested in Johnson County, Kansas and extradited back to Contra Costa County.

The Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is managed by the San Jose Police Department. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa County Probation Department and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force along with Special Agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States Secret Service.

Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org for further information. If you believe your school or community organization would benefit from a smartphone and social media awareness presentation, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at DA-Commentary-Feedback@contracostada.org.

Case information: People v. Cashell Docket Number 05-191603-0

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 27, 2019, the Marine Patrol Unit continued to search for a missing boater in Indian Slough. He was reported missing on Sunday, August 25, 2019, at about 2:18 AM. Two men were fishing on an inflatable raft at Indian Slough when their raft apparently had a malfunction. One of the men swam to shore, but the other person was unaccounted for.

At about 4:05 PM on Tuesday, Marine Patrol Deputies were dispatched to a floating private dock behind a residence on the 200 block of Discovery Bay Boulevard for a report of a body in the water.

Deputies arrived on scene and recovered the body. The body was turned over to the Coroner’s Division.

The Coroner’s Division later identified the recovered body as 34-year-old Efren Cruz-Rodriguez of Oakland. An autopsy was performed this morning. The cause of death is listed as drowning.

Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit at (925) 427-8507.

Expected completion in December 2020

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will begin construction on the Bay Point Utility Undergrounding Project. The work consists of undergrounding utility lines along Bailey Road from State Route 4 north to Willow Pass Road then east along Willow Pass Road to the Pittsburg City Limit just east of Crivello Avenue. This project will provide residents of Bay Point with a more aesthetic travel corridor, remove several obstructions along the sidewalk, and provide a more dependable utility infrastructure than the existing overhead lines. Contra Costa County is also installing six additional streetlights to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.

Construction will begin on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, with completion in December 2020, barring unforeseen circumstances. Drivers can expect delays during construction. Work may take place between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm with restrictions to minimize impacts during commute hours. There may be night and weekend work scheduled during electrical system cut-overs to minimize disruption to local residents and businesses.

Funding for Contra Costa County’s portion of this project is provided by gas tax revenues and Navy Mitigation funds, and the remainder is funded by PG&E Rule 20A funds, Comcast, and AT&T.

Congressmen Mark DeSaulnier and Jerry McNerney.

Congressmen Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Jerry McNerney (CA-09) will host a joint town hall at on Thursday, August 29th at 6:30 p.m. in Antioch. The City of Antioch is split between the two representatives.

During the town hall, DeSaulnier and McNerney will provide an update on news of the day and will take questions.

Antioch Town Hall with Congressmen DeSaulnier & McNerney

Thursday, August 29

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Antioch Community Center

4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch

Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.

This event is open to the public, press, and photographers.

Please RSVP by visiting https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or calling 925-933-2660. To request ADA accommodations, translation services, or for more information contact Representative DeSaulnier’s office in either Walnut Creek or Richmond.

By CHP-Contra Costa

Monday morning at approximately 8:00 am, we responded to a collision on Highway 4 westbound, near Loveridge Road. Upon arrival, we located a motorcycle rider who had rear-ended a Toyota Camry and was ejected off of his motorcycle, as a result of that collision.

Unfortunately, following that collision, the rider was struck by a big rig and sustained fatal injuries. Both the driver of the big rig and the Toyota are cooperating with our investigation. Multiple lanes were closed until approximately 10:00 am, but the roadway is now fully open. Identification of the motorcycle rider will be made through the Contra Costa Coroner’s Office.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sunday morning at about 2:18 a.m., Delta Station Deputy Sheriffs responded to Indian Slough for a missing person detail. Two men were fishing on an inflatable raft at Indian Slough when the raft apparently had a malfunction. One of the men swam to shore, but the other person was unaccounted for.

A CHP helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard and Contra Costa Fire Protection District arrived on scene with boats and aerial support, however, the missing man was not located

Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit later arrived on scene and took over the investigation and search. Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441.

By CHP-Contra Costa

This morning, at approximately 8:50 am, we responded to a collision on Balfour Road near American Way. Upon arrival, we located three vehicles which had been involved in a collision. Our investigation so far has revealed the following information:

The driver of a Nissan Altima was driving eastbound on Balfour, west of American Avenue behind a Mini Cooper. The driver of the Nissan attempted to pass the Mini Cooper over double solid yellow lines, but while attempting to overtake it, clipped the Mini Cooper and struck a white minivan head on, which was going westbound on Balfour.

The driver of the Nissan was pronounced deceased on scene, the driver of the Toyota minivan was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, and the driver of the Mini Cooper was unharmed. At this time (10:30 am), Balfour remains closed as we complete our investigation and clear the scene. We do not have an estimated time to re-open the roadway. We are still investigating whether drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in this collision.

WHAT: Join our celebration of Black Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 25-31 at the Chocolate Milk Lounge, a free health education event to help black moms and families meet each other and learn about the importance of breastfeeding their infants.

The Lounge includes certified lactation consultants and information about community resources to support breastfeeding mothers, along with prizes, gift bags, snacks and more. The lounge is sponsored by Contra Costa Health Services, Black Infant Health and First 5 Contra Costa.

For more information, call Pam Moore at 925-313-6128, Marlene Ceballo at 925-646-5200 or Lonnie Watkins at 925-313-6254.

WHO: All are welcome. Registration is required – links below.

WHEN: 12-2pm Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Antioch First 5 Center, 300 H Street – register

11am-2pm Wednesday, Aug. 28 at Pittsburg Health Center, 2311 Loveridge Road – register

10am-12pm Thursday, Aug. 29 at LifeLong Brookside San Pablo Health Center, 2023 Vale Road, San Pablo – register

8:30am-12pm Friday, Aug. 30 at West County Health Center, 501 Gateway Avenue, San Pablo – register

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) will host a town hall to discuss climate change and the environment on Monday, August 26th at 6:30 p.m.

Congressman DeSaulnier will discuss the critical role the government plays in protecting our environment and the Trump Administration’s rollback of major environmental regulations that protect our air, water, wildlife, and open spaces.

This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 91st town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress four years ago.

Climate Change & the Environment Town Hall

Monday, August 26, 2019

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Campolindo High School Multipurpose Room

300 Moraga Road, Moraga

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

This event is open to the public, press, and photographers.

To confirm your attendance, please RSVP online at https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call 925-933-2660. To request ADA accommodations or for more information contact one of Congressman DeSaulnier’s offices in either Walnut Creek or Richmond.

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney

Last week, defendant Curtis Hill, a 59-year-old Concord resident, was convicted, by a Contra Costa County jury, of first degree residential burglary. On August 16, 2019, the jury returned findings that the Defendant had been convicted of three prior strike offenses – two prior residential robberies and a residential burglary. In his prior residential robbery conviction, he committed great bodily injury on a person over the age of 60.

The charges stem from the evening of August 3, 2018, when Hill entered the victim’s Concord home. He selected jewelry from a bedroom in the home and then fled the scene. Later that same evening, he was arrested by the Concord Police Department.

Hill has a long history of theft, violence, and disorderly conduct in the downtown Concord area. His behavior has made him a longstanding nuisance and danger to the residents of Concord and law enforcement in the area.

This conviction constitutes a third strike for the defendant. He is next in court on September 27, 2019, to set a sentencing before Judge Christopher Bowen.

Deputy District Attorney Chris Sansoe prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. DDA Sansoe is assigned to our Office’s Victims of Violent Crime Unit. The trial lasted 14 days in Department 40 before Judge Bowen.

Case information: People v. Curtis Lee Hill, Docket Number 05-181909-3